WALES

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: None, but my Department issued guidance to all staff in June 2006 to switch off their personal computers and networked printers when not in use.
	Reminders are sent to all staff periodically.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Department in each of the last three years.

Paul Murphy: In the past three years my Department spent nothing on furnishings in 2005, £850 in 2006 on new desks and chairs in the Cardiff Office. In 2007 a refurbishment program was undertaken to Gwydyr House at a cost of £52,900. This involved the replacement of curtains provided for security reasons, worn carpets replaced on health and safety grounds and the replacement of worn and damaged furniture.
	All artwork is on loan from the National Museum of Wales or the Government Art Collection.
	All vehicles used by the Wales Office are leased through the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many working days have been lost due to sickness amongst employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Paul Murphy: Figures for the level of sickness absence at the Wales Office are available for each financial year since April 2004.
	The number of days of sickness absence is as follows:
	
		
			   Days 
			 2004-05 233 
			 2005-06 175.5 
			 2006-07 267 
			 2007-08 (1)505.5 
			 (1) Includes isolated incidents of long-term sickness absence.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Paul Murphy: My Department does not have a canteen, or host meals, but fish dishes have occasionally been served at Departmental receptions among other hors d'œuvre. It would not be possible to identify separately any of the details requested from the cost of the reception.

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Paul Murphy: Figures for absence due to industrial action are only available since April 2004.
	The number of working days lost due to industrial absence by employees at the Wales Office was 16.
	This relates to two events in 2007.

Trade

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss increasing Welsh trade representation at the British Embassy in Washington with the Foreign Secretary.

Paul Murphy: UK Trade and Investment staff in UK embassies, high commissions, consulates and trade offices represent all parts of the United Kingdom, including Wales.
	Additionally International Business Wales, part of the Welsh Assembly Government, has responsibility for supporting companies from Wales in their efforts to trade internationally.
	It also has a strong and close relationship with UKTI both at home and overseas. This cohesive approach provides for a robust service to clients and I understand that globally International Business Wales' intervention in 2007-08 helped facilitate deals of almost £170 million for companies in Wales.

TRANSPORT

A14: Kettering

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to make a decision on proposals to improve the A14 around Kettering.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has investigated options for improving the A14 in the Kettering area and I expect to receive advice shortly.

Departmental Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1024W, on official cars, for which Minister outside the Cabinet a car manufactured in the UK was purchased.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Investment is provided with an official car that has been manufactured within the UK.

Departmental Official Visits

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In financial year 2007-08, the Department for Transport (Central) and two of its agencies, HA and VCA, together recorded a total of 2,766 individual domestic flight sectors. These were purchased from central travel contracts at a combined cost of £384,671.75.
	In addition, DVLA purchased a further 1,832 domestic flights but the agency does not record the cost of such flights separately from other travel costs, and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's remaining four agencies, DSA, GCDA, MCA and VOSA, do not record this information centrally, and could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.

Fuels: Prices

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of rising petrol prices on the usage of cars in England and Wales.

Rosie Winterton: In its work for the Eddington transport study, the Department for Transport assesses the effect of sustained high oil prices on car usage. We compare the traffic growth assuming two different long-term oil prices, one using the 'central' Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform oil price projections at the time of the Study, the other using a significantly higher projection.
	Traffic is forecast in England to grow by just under a third between 2003 and 2025 in the central case. This assumes oil prices are $35 in 2025 (2004 prices). When Brent crude per barrel prices are assumed to be $100, traffic growth is still increasing in the period, but lowered by 6 per cent. relative to the central forecast growth.

Official Cars: Fuels

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government Car Service spent on fuel in each of the last six months for which records are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency spent a total of £161,600 on fuel for its Government Car Service as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 December 2007 22,400 
			 January 2008 31,800 
			 February 2008 26,600 
			 March 2008 24,100 
			 April 2008 27,800 
			 May 2008 28,900

Official Cars: Ministers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are any circumstances in which a Minister's request to be provided with a British-built car would not be met by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 427W.

Olympic Games 2012: Transport

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings  (a) she and  (b) Ministerial colleagues have had with (i) the Olympic Delivery Authority, (ii) Transport for London, (iii) the London Development Agency, (iv) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (v) train operating companies and (vi) the Minister for the Olympics to discuss transport plans for the 2012 Olympics in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State and her ministerial colleagues have had several meetings over the past three years with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), Transport for London, train operating companies and the Minister for the Olympics, together with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. There have been no ministerial meetings with the London Development Agency to discuss transport for the 2012 games to date. A more detailed breakdown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Railways: Bridges

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Office of Rail Regulation has assumed Network Rail will receive in payments from third parties who wish to build a bridge across a railway in  (a) 2004 to 2009 and  (b) 2009 to 2014.

Tom Harris: No specific allowance has been assumed by the Office of Rail Regulation in respect of payments received by Network Rail from third parties who wish to build a bridge across the railway in  (a) 2004 to 2009 and  (b) 2009 to 2014.

Railways: Licensing

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on EU proposals to harmonise  (a) training and  (b) licences for train operators.

Tom Harris: The Train Driver Licensing Directive (2007/59/EC) was adopted on 23 October 2007 as part of the Third Railway Package. The directive aims to harmonise the licensing and certification of train drivers and other train crew with a safety related role. Although it specifies the minimum requirements that need to be met by a train driver, the directive does not include measures to harmonise training requirements.
	The directive must be transposed by 3 December 2009. In transposing the directive for the UK the Government will work closely with all stakeholders to achieve a balanced and workable implementation in line with the principles of better regulation.

Road Traffic

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in levels of traffic congestion in the 10 largest urban areas of England in the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The following tables show morning peak period speeds across the 10 largest urban areas in England in 2004 and 2006, based on surveys conducted by the Department and Transport for London:
	
		
			  Miles per hour 
			   2000-03  2003-06  2006-09 
			  London( 1)
			 Central 9.9 10.6 9.3 
			 Inner 11.6 11.7 11.2 
			 Outer 16.9 16.3 — 
			 (1) Surveys are run over three years for the three areas of London, beginning with the central area and ending with the outer area. 
		
	
	
		
			  Miles per hour 
			   2002  2004  2006 
			 West Midlands 21.1 20.5 18.9 
			 Greater Manchester 23.2 21.0 18.5 
			 Leeds/Bradford 20.1 20.4 20.8 
			 Tyneside 27.8 24.7 25.5 
			 Merseyside 23.7 19.8 18.7 
			 Sheffield 18.8 18.6 19.0 
			 Bristol 23.2 19.0 20.2 
			 Nottingham 15.9 16.4 16.5 
			 Leicester 15.6 14.7 15.8 
		
	
	The 10 largest urban areas set congestion targets as part of the Department's urban congestion PSA indicator, using a new, more detailed data source. The following table shows the first report of progress towards these targets, in terms of the percentage change in person journey time per mile from the baseline(1) to 2006-07 (percentage increases reflect slower journey times).
	(1) The baseline is a mix of 2004-05 and 2005-06 data. Comparable data before the baseline are not available.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   LO  GM  ME  SY  TW  WM  WY  BR  LE  NO  ALL 
			 Change in person journey times (progress to 2006-07) -3.5 -3.4 -4.3 -3.0 -1.0 -2.3 2.2 -0.4 -1.3 1.6 -2.4 
			 Change in person journey times (2010-11 target) 1.5 0.0 5.1 7.6 7.0 5.0 7.0 14.0 6.25 10.5 3.6 
			  Notes: 1. LO London, GM Greater Manchester, ME Merseyside, SY South Yorkshire, TW Tyne and Wear, WM West Midlands, WY West Yorkshire, BR Bristol, LE Leicester, NO Nottingham 2. The percentage changes of less than 2 per cent. are unlikely to be statistically significant; that is not necessarily indicative of real changes in congestion. 
		
	
	The urban congestion indicator covers key routes in each urban area (mainly principal A roads) during the weekday morning peak, excluding school holidays. Congestion in urban areas is measured by "person journey time per mile". Person journey times per mile are the average journey times per mile experienced by individual road users, rather than the vehicle average. These take into account average vehicle journey times, average vehicle occupancies and the number of vehicles on the route segment (vehicle flow). Figures are based on the academic year (September to August).
	The data in the aforementioned table was published in the 2008 Departmental Annual Report, Annex D, available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/publications/apr/ar2008/

Roads: Accidents

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities of  (a) drivers,  (b) passengers,  (c) other vehicle occupants and  (d) other road users there were in crashes in which one of the drivers was aged between 17 and 24 years in each year since 1995.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of fatalities of  (a) motor vehicle drivers or riders aged 17-24,  (b) passengers of a 17-24 year old driver or rider,  (c) occupants of other motor vehicles (including drivers) and  (d) other road users (mainly pedestrians and cyclists) in reported personal injury accidents involving at least one motor vehicle driver aged 17-24 in Great Britain in 1995 to 2007 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of fatalities 
			   Drivers or riders aged 17-24  Passengers of driver or rider aged 17-24  Other motor vehicle occupants  Other road users 
			 1995 440 271 218 290 
			 1996 421 311 233 296 
			 1997 450 261 213 259 
			 1998 382 222 222 224 
			 1999 375 238 168 224 
			 2000 398 225 196 179 
			 2001 411 234 208 179 
			 2002 437 256 212 173 
			 2003 468 261 201 145 
			 2004 439 263 225 182 
			 2005 453 256 192 183 
			 2006 475 229 190 160 
			 2007 416 229 206 143

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been allocated to  (a) road repair,  (b) road improvement and  (c) road building schemes in each local authority area in each of the last 12 years.

Rosie Winterton: Central Government provide a number of funding streams that local authorities are able to apply to road repairs, improvements and building. Authorities are also able to apply their own resources to their networks.
	I have placed details of funding from the Department for Transport in the House Libraries, as follows:
	 (a) block capital funding made available to local authorities since 2000-01 as part of the LTP settlement. This funding is not ring fenced and authorities have discretion to spend their allocations in line with their priorities. Where joint plans were prepared, the figures relate to the plan rather than individual authorities. The table includes aggregate figures for funding provided prior to the introduction of the LTP settlement.
	 (b) revenue and capital funding provided to authorities since 2001-02 for the maintenance of recently detrunked roads. This funding is also not ring fenced. Prior to 2000-01 funding was provided by the Local Transport Capital Expenditure settlement. I am also including the allocations from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 in this table.
	 (c) capital funding that the Department has contributed (or is expecting to contribute) to local authority major road schemes generally costing over £5 million. The table shows schemes completed since 2000 and those that are being delivered or at the various approval stages in line with our local major scheme guidance.
	 (d) PFI credits allocated to schemes. This shows PFI credits allocated to English local authorities (including London boroughs) for improvements in their street lighting and highway maintenance where contracts have been signed or are in procurement.
	 (e) funding provided for emergency repairs to local highways in 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2007-08.
	Local authorities are also provided with financial support for the revenue required for road maintenance through the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government. There is no separately identified highways maintenance component in RSG and it is for each authority to determine how much of it should be allocated to their highway network.
	Funding for highway maintenance and for transport in London has generally since 2000-01 been a matter for the Mayor.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail franchises have approached her Department prior to a formal application being submitted to request additional rolling stock during the current franchise.

Tom Harris: Since the Department for Transport took over responsibility for rail franchise management in 2005, some operators have held discussions with the Department proposing additional rolling stock, usually linked to a wider package of contract alterations. These discussions are commercially confidential. The Department considers all such proposals to determine whether they are consistent with procurement law, affordable, provide value for money for the taxpayer and fit with objectives for the rail network.
	The Department set out its requirements in the White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway 2007, that it would procure through the operators an additional 1300 new vehicles. These discussions are now taking place and will result in the delivery of the vehicles.

Rolling Stock: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the process is by which rolling stock companies are consulted on franchise specifications before they are decided; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Rolling stock companies are welcome to comment on franchise specifications during the consultation phase, along with all other stakeholders. Thereafter it is for bidders for the franchise to agree their rolling stock plans with the owners of the stock.

Safety Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance she has  (a) produced and  (b) plans to produce on the importance of wearing seat belts correctly; how many (i) males and (ii) females, broken down by age group were (A) killed and (B) injured in road accidents as a result of not wearing their seat belts correctly in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department does not produce such guidance and has no plans to do so. Information on seat belt usage, whether correctly worn or not, by those injured in crashes is not collected by the police for the purposes of the Department's road casualty statistics. The Department's publicity and other guidance focuses on the need to use seat belts.

SCOTLAND

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has no in-house catering facilities and the provision of food is generally limited to catering associated with official hospitality and is supplied by external contractors. The Office does not separately record the purchase of fish.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Shaun Woodward: In the last two years the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies have entered into the following IT contracts:
	Business Intelligence Solution Support Contract;
	JSE Computing Call-off contract (001-005);
	NOVOSCO—Citrix Goldcare Service Level Agreement;
	EOS—Contract 64:1 Hardware and Software support for Apple Macs;
	Oracle Support Services for Integra Accounting and NIPS PAFIS—Service Level Agreement;
	iSoft Business Solutions (Ireland) Ltd Systems Support Agreement;
	System Support Agreement for SIPS Systems;
	System Support Agreement for VIRBS Systems;
	NI Prison Service and Accenture UK Ltd Systems Support Agreement;
	Gold Service Level Agreement for Server Hardware Support between British Telecommunications and NI Prison Service.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: It is not possible to separate the costs of premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels from the overall subscription costs paid by my Department and agencies for digital services.

Domestic Animals: Theft

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many reports of theft of domestic animals in Northern Ireland there were in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:
	The following table details the number of incidents of theft of domestic animals recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1)  Total 
			 Birds 0 0 0 0 20 20 
			 Cat 1 0 2 1 4 8 
			 Cattle 45 33 38 40 42 198 
			 Dog 67 63 68 67 67 332 
			 Donkey 2 5 6 1 4 18 
			 Exotic 4 1 1 1 1 7 
			 Fish 0 0 0 0 8 8 
			 Goat 0 2 0 0 2 4 
			 Horse 13 7 16 9 19 64 
			 Pig 0 1 1 0 1 3 
			 Poultry 0 0 0 0 5 5 
			 Rabbit 8 2 5 7 0 22 
			 Reptiles 1 0 1 5 3 10 
			 Rodents 1 2 0 0 2 5 
			 Sheep 49 23 31 21 18 142 
			 Wildlife 0 1 0 1 0 2 
			 N/A 20 18 15 15 15 83 
			
			 Total 211 158 184 168 211 932 
			 (1) Detailed property information linked to the crime record has been used to provide the figures. With the introduction of a new crime recording system in April 2007, the way the property details are linked to crime records has changed—prior to April 2007 the property was linked to each individual crime, since April 2007 property is linked to an occurrence which may contain one or more crimes therefore linking the property to all crimes in each occurrence. This change means that there may be some inflation in the crime levels based on this property information from 2007-08 onwards. (Please note that crime records are counted in exactly the same way on both systems.) It should also be noted that whilst the categories of animal types on the two crime recording systems are broadly similar, there are some differences.

Domestic Violence

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding was allocated to domestic abuse prevention initiatives in  (a) A District Command Unit area,  (b) B District Command Unit area and  (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office has spent the following amounts on domestic abuse prevention initiatives over the past two years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 53,193 
			 2007-08 228,000 
		
	
	This is in addition to the funding allocated by DHSSPS towards implementing the 'Tackling Violence at Home Strategy', which was launched by both Departments in October 2005.
	The PSNI has also spent a total of £348,296 on a range of initiatives relating to victims of domestic abuse across Northern Ireland since 2005.
	It is not possible to provide the information as requested.

Human Trafficking

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Police Service of Northern Ireland spent on the Pentameter 2 initiative in the last 12 months; what financial and logistical support his Department gives to the initiative in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The budget for the Pentameter 2 initiative comes from the PSNI's Crime Operations annual budget.
	Pentameter 2 is a one-off operation co-ordinated by the Home Office and ACPO, which commenced on 3 October 2007 and finished on 31 March 2008. A Chief Inspector from the PSNI, attached to the Immigration Service, heads a team of detectives based at Templepatrick, who were involved in Pentameter 2.

Human Trafficking

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much it cost to establish the new Police Service of Northern Ireland Pentameter 2 office in Belfast; what the annual operating costs of the new office are expected to be; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There is no specific Pentameter 2 office in Belfast. The Organised Crime Squad within Crime Operations Department managed Pentameter 2 on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The initiative was co-ordinated from Belfast by a Detective Chief Inspector, Organised Crime Squad.
	Police officers throughout Northern Ireland have worked towards the goal of Pentameter 2 along with the Immigration Service and other agencies.

Human Trafficking

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time equivalent  (a) police officers and  (b) civilian support staff are working on the Pentameter 2 initiative in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the specialist Belfast Pentameter 2 office.

Paul Goggins: There is no specific Pentameter 2 office in Belfast. 20 detectives were involved in the Pentameter 2 operation, ranging from Detective Constable to Detective Chief Inspector rank along with three civilian support personnel.
	When conducting search operations the expertise of Tactical Support Groups were employed to carry out the search.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Computer Devices

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate the Commission has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in the House when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: We do not keep statistics on computer devices left on overnight in the House. However, the new online induction course to the parliamentary network, which all new users (Members, their staff and staff of the House) must complete, includes guidance on shutting down personal computers each day. In addition to this, all computers have Microsoft power saving settings enabled; these also reduce energy consumption.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much fish was procured by the House and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Nick Harvey: No records are available for the quantity and value of fish purchased by the House prior to 2007-08, but the records are available to provide details of the quantity of fish consumed in each year since 2004-05; for the sake of consistency, the information for 2007-08 is therefore also presented in this format, as set out in the following table. No records are available for 2003-04.
	
		
			  Unit (kg) 
			   2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05 
			  Fish 
			 Anchovy 88 158 140 82 
			 Black Bream 364 439 70 102 
			 Brill 0 60 30 30 
			 Cod (Icelandic preferred) 3,709 2,979 1,608 1,393 
			 Coley 32 3 0 429 
			 Eel 25 51 51 58 
			 Escolar 176 0 0 0 
			 Gurnard 42 0 0 0 
			 Haddock (Icelandic/North Sea) 3,285 3,281 1,803 1,319 
			 Hake 370 21 52 5 
			 Halibut 99 78 90 132 
			 Herring 65 185 215 17 
			 Herring (Kipper) 158 180 156 66 
			 Herring (Rollmop) 657 650 333 47 
			 Hoki 12 0 0 0 
			 Kingfish 218 241 36 0 
			 Mackerel (North Sea, Cornwall and South West) 355 1,475 1,311 470 
			 Monkfish (Channel, South West Coast, Scotland) 83 643 257 32 
			 Mullet, Grey 312 564 119 25 
			 Mullet, Red 326 275 7 37 
			 Octopus 43 14 22 21 
			 Pangasius 94 0 0 0 
			 Plaice 779 901 696 675 
			 Pollock 260 272 48 0 
			 Red Bream 249 8 0 255 
			 Salmon (Scottish farm SSPO approved) 6,566 6,927 8,181 4,899 
			 Sardines 228 299 177 5 
			 Sea Bream (EU farmed) 530 707 56 145 
			 Sea Bass (EU farmed) 1,063 808 721 570 
			 Skate 18 5 116 57 
			 Snapper 29 57 186 311 
			 Sole, Dover 6 72 54 131 
			 Sole, Lemon (English Channel, Irish Sea) 466 492 520 647 
			 Squid 143 220 502 582 
			 Swordfish 8 208 478 248 
			 Talapia 89 44 35 23 
			 Trout (English farmed) 602 1,196 652 401 
			 Tuna (line-caught, Yellowfin) 589 2,346 2,494 1,344 
			 Turbot 9 0 0 0 
			 Whitebait 5 15 0 0 
			 Whiting 22 0 0 0 
			  
			  Shellfish 
			 Clams 227 137 85 49 
			 Cockles 38 9 7 13 
			 Crab (whole) 35 243 51 16 
			 Crab Meat 237 283 292 124 
			 Lobster 58 104 129 48 
			 Mussels 296 63 232 729 
			 Oysters 7 0 0 60 
			 Prawns 1,811 1,937 2,346 1,933 
			 Scallops 235 65 162 111 
			 Scampi 134 103 160 127 
			 Shrimps, Brown 69 13 21 22 
		
	
	No records are kept of the amount and value of fish purchased that meet the Marine Stewardship Council's environmental standard for sustainable fishing. However, the current instructions issued to suppliers of fresh and frozen fish expressly stipulate that "all fish supplied must come from approved sustainable sources" and provide specific provenance requirements in the case of cod, haddock and other fish regarded as over-exploited by the Marine Stewardship Council or Marine Conservation Society. Furthermore, the House is currently in the process of letting a new contract for the supply of fish. Both the Marine Stewardship Council and the Seafish Industry Authority had input into the specification of requirements regarding environmental sustainability standards, and the relevant clauses were developed using the toolkit provided by DEFRA under the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative.

Members' Centre

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost has been of the refurbishment of the e-Library to create a new Members' Centre in Portcullis House; what the cost has been of the new  (a) furnishings and  (b) technological equipment installed in the new Members' Centre; what the reasons were for the establishment of the new Members' Centre in Portcullis House; and whether a cost benefit analysis was carried out before the new Members' Centre in Portcullis House was commissioned.

Nick Harvey: The total cost of the refurbishment of the e-Library to create the Members' Centre was £38,100. The furnishings installed in the centre cost £25,900 and the technological equipment cost £12,200. The centre was established as a part of the response to Sir Kevin Tebbit's review of the management and services of the House. It is intended to help provide a more integrated and responsive service to hon. Members and to their staff across the range of the services provided by House Departments. Benefits were assessed against costs before the centre was commissioned, though no formal cost/benefit analysis was conducted. The extent of the centre's use, and the support it has received from hon. Members and their staff, albeit after just one week of operation, suggests that the centre will fully justify its costs.

Members: Allowances

Julian Lewis: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen (Mr. Doran) North, of 30 June 2005,  Official Report, column 546W, on Members' allowances, 
	(1)  how much time hon. Members will be given to examine documents relating to them which are due for disclosure to the public, prior to such disclosure; and whether documents to be scanned may be edited  (a) before and  (b) after scanning;
	(2)  what procedure will be adopted to ensure that when personal details are redacted from hon. Members' documents disclosed to the public by the House authorities the redacted details will be undetectable;
	(3)  whether all hard copy documents from which hon. Members' personal details have been redacted will be photocopied again before distribution to any member of the public in order to ensure the integrity of the redaction.

Nick Harvey: The information requested is as follows.
	(1) The exact timetable is still being finalised. However, it is anticipated that Members will have approximately one month to examine documents relating to them, which are due for disclosure to the public, prior to such disclosure. The documents will be edited after scanning.
	(2) The scanned documents will be edited using a proven and secure software product, which will remove pages and remove and replace text and images according to the editing scheme before the document is re-saved. The redacted material will not be detectable in the published information.
	(3) Only permanently redacted images of original documents will be made available to the public, rather than photocopies of original documents. The integrity of the redaction will be assured as follows:
	The original documents will be scanned and retained. At the end of the imaging and editing process there will be three electronic versions of the scanned documents:
	(1) An image of the entire original document before editing
	(2) An image of the document with the editing marked but with all underlying text readable
	(3) A final version for publication with all edited text removed from the image of the document.
	Images 1 and 2 will be retained for auditing purposes in the event of any query about the editing and redacting process. Image 3 will be the only version made available to the public.

Members: ICT

Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps are being taken to ensure that hon. Members' staff based off the parliamentary estate are offered an equivalent IT service to hon. Members' staff based in the House.

Nick Harvey: The Administration Committee considered proposals prepared by the Parliamentary ICT (PICT) Directorate in June 2008 for improving support and services to Members and their staff while working away from the Parliamentary Estate, and specifically in their constituency offices. The proposals included:
	1. Regionally based engineering services that can provide a face to face response to Members and their staffs' issues more quickly than can be achieved at present.
	2. Local areas network (LANs) in constituency offices, including wireless access where feasible, and support of the networks on an ongoing basis.
	3. Upgrades to the current broadband services.
	While not providing an equivalent level of service for off-site users to that available to Members and their staff based in Westminster, these proposals would provide a much improved level of service. Delivery of these proposals is dependent on financial approval. A business case will be presented in the autumn.

Members: ICT

Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will undertake a review of  (a) the contract with Demon and  (b) the service offered to hon. Members by PICT.

Nick Harvey: The contract with Demon, the third party service provider, is subject to regular review meetings with Demon. Some service issues have already been addressed. For example, through collaborative working between BT and Demon disruption to broadband services due to constituency office moves has been reduced considerably. Further improvements are expected in the future. In the short term, the parliamentary ICT Directorate (PICT) and Demon are planning to upgrade some of the slower broadband services. A complete new broadband contract is expected to be procured within the next year.
	PICT services to Members were subject to review by the Administration Committee last year. The recommendations made in the Committee's report Information and Communication Technology Services for Members (HC 498) are reflected in PICT's forward plan of work relating to Members' IT, many of which have now been delivered.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether the Government Equalities Office met the Civil Service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008.

Barbara Follett: The civil service diversity targets apply to senior grades and are for the civil service as a whole to achieve. The first of the four specific targets is for 37 per cent. women in the senior civil service (grade five officers and above). In the Government Equalities Office, four of the six senior civil servants are women. The second target is for 30 per cent. women in top management posts (those occupied by grade three and above). In GEO one of the two top managers is a woman. The third target, for 4 per cent. ethnic minority staff in the SCS, is not met in the GEO.
	The fourth target is for 3.2 per cent. disabled staff in the senior civil service. Staff may declare disabilities voluntarily. GEO will consider whether to disclose any relevant information about this target, taking account of the need to ensure that individuals cannot be identified. This is a particularly important consideration for Departments like the GEO where total staff numbers are small.
	Information about gender and ethnicity in the GEO work force is on the GEO website:
	www.equalities.gov.uk
	The latest published statistics against overall civil service targets were at October 2007, and are available on the civil service website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/diversity/monitoring.asp.
	The final measurement against the targets will be published in autumn 2008.

Equal Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent representations she has received on the gender pay gap in the  (a) private and  (b) public sectors.

Barbara Follett: In recent months I have received representations from hon. Members of the House of Commons and members of the public on the gender pay gap in the civil service and the public and private sectors and equal pay in local government and the United Kingdom as a whole.
	Closing the pay gap between men and women is a high priority for this Government because it allows families to make real choices about how they live their lives. The pay gap perpetuates the unequal division of labour in the home and prevents fathers from playing a more active role in their children's early years and women from fulfilling their opportunities to work. Closing the pay gap is now one of the indicators in the new Equalities Public Service Agreement. This will help to build on other practical measures we have introduced, such as giving the parents of young, or disabled, children and the carers of adults the right to request flexible working, and providing more access to child care.

PRIME MINISTER

10 Downing Street

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost of 10 Downing Street was in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Gordon Brown: For information for the financial year 2006-07 I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 22 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1098-99W. Figures for the financial year 2007-08 are not yet available.

10 Downing Street

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff were employed by 10 Downing street in (a) April 2007 and  (b) April 2008.

Gordon Brown: I refer the right hon. Member to answers I gave the hon. Members for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) and Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 15 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 819-20W, and the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 1 May 2008,  Official Report, column 624W.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 919W, on departmental aviation, in what format information on domestic flights and expenditure incurred on them is held.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the right hon. Member on 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 919W.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by 10 Downing Street for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) on 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1625W.

G8: Japan

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers and officials will accompany him to the G8 Heads of Government Summit in Japan; and if he will  (a) place in the Library and  (b) post on his office's website links to the papers submitted to the summit by (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) other participants.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the human rights situation in Tibet with world leaders during the G8 summit in Japan.

David Drew: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised the issues of  (a) malaria,  (b) tuberculosis and  (c) HIV/AIDS eradication with his international counterparts at the recent G8 summit in Japan; and what progress has been made through the G8 towards disease control, with particular reference to Africa.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Members to my statement on 10 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1547. Copies of all 2008 final G8 Summit communiqués have been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies can be found at the Japanese G8 presidency's website:
	http://www.g8summit.go.jp/eng/doc/index.html

Members: Electronic Surveillance

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister whether communications traffic data on telephone calls made  (a) by and  (b) to hon. Members are covered by the Wilson Doctrine.

Gordon Brown: I set out the position on the Wilson Doctrine on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2103W.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister which special envoys he has appointed since taking office; what remuneration is paid to each; what allowance each receives for expenses; and how much each has been reimbursed for claims for  (a) expenses and  (b) travel expenses.

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what special envoys he has appointed; and for what purposes in each case.

Gordon Brown: Since June 2007, I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Barry Gardiner) as the Special Envoy for Forestry. My right hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) has served since 2003 as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Human Rights in Iraq and has been reappointed.
	Separately, I have appointed my right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) as the Special Representative to Cyprus.
	They are entitled to claim reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred as part of their work. These expenses are paid in accordance with existing departmental guidelines on allowances and subsistence.

Paul Sinclair

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what the  (a) job title and  (b) job specification of Mr. Paul Sinclair is in Downing Street.

Gordon Brown: Special advisers are employed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Communication Skills

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure the effective development of speech and language skills in children; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Government recognise that speech and language skills are vital to all areas of a child's development. Together with the Department of Health we are taking a number of steps to ensure all children get the right support to develop these skills, including targeted or specialist support for children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties.
	On 8 July we welcomed the final report of the Bercow Review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). We support fully the report's call for action to raise the profile of speech, language and communications across Government, local agencies and wider society and to improve services for children and young people with SLCN. We will publish a plan for implementation of the recommendations made by the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) in the autumn. We have already asked Sir Jim Rose to examine how schools can better focus on speech, language and communication as part of his review of the primary curriculum.
	Alongside our response to the recommendations in the Bercow Report, on 8 July the Government announced a new £40 million early language programme, Every Child a Talker, which aims to improve the understanding of early language development among the early years workforce. It will provide practitioners with training and materials to enable them to support children's speaking and listening skills more effectively and free up time for practitioners to spend working with parents to enrich the home environment and networking with each other to share good practice. This will complement the materials delivered through the Inclusion Development Programme, which is focusing in its first year on SLCN, along with dyslexia.
	Sure Start Children's Centres (SSCC) play a key role in the positive promotion of children's speech and language development. In our Children's Centre Practice Guidance (December 2006) we said that speech, language and communication should be a priority for SSCCs in developing their services and that all staff should have the skills and understanding required for high-quality, responsive interaction with children.
	In addition, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), being introduced from September this year, recognises the importance of supporting and extending children's learning and competence in communicating, speaking and listening and providing opportunities for children to use these skills in a range of situations and for different purposes. One of the key roles for practitioners within the EYFS is to identify and respond to any particular difficulties in children's language development at an early stage.
	Early identification of SLCN is further promoted through the Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP), led by the Department of Health. CHHP is the early intervention and prevention public health programme that lies at the heart of all universal services for children and families. It highlights a child's speech and language development as one of eight priority topics for health and development reviews of children.

Children: Disabled

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to local authorities  (a) on the status of a disabled child whilst in short-term respite care and  (b) on the transportation of such children between school and (i) the family home and (ii) the place providing respite care.

Kevin Brennan: The White Paper "Care Matters: Time for Change" set out a commitment to issue statutory guidance (within the revised Children Act 1989 guidance) specifically on the issues of short break care to clarify the applicable regulations for different settings and arrangements. The guidance will set out the circumstances in which it would be expected that the child would be looked after.
	In 2004, the Department published 'Home to School travel for pupils requiring special arrangements' and following the Education and Inspections Act 2006, which extended entitlement to free transport for low income families, published its 'Home to School Travel and Transport Guidance' in May 2007. This guidance covers local authority duties and powers relating to sustainable school travel, and the provision of school travel arrangements for children and young people.
	Guidance to local authorities and PCTs on short break delivery will be issued very shortly and addresses transport to such provision.

Donors: Health Education

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to make materials available to schools and colleges for 16 to 18-year-olds on registering for bone marrow donation; and when he expects these materials to be included in the national curriculum.

Jim Knight: There is a variety of opportunities for young people to learn about bone marrow donation within the curriculum through PSHE, citizenship and science. In science, young people explore how health is affected by diet, drugs, disease and medical treatments and they are also given opportunities to use real life examples when finding out about science. Through PSHE and citizenship, young people are encouraged to make real choices and decisions and take informed action.
	The Department is working closely with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to improve the accessibility and emphasise the curriculum opportunities on their 'Give and Let Live' website. The site will be re-launched in September 2008, and includes facts and information on bone marrow donation. The Secretary of State for Health and Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families will write jointly to schools and colleges in September, highlighting how donation can be taught within the curriculum and referring to the revised Give and Let Live resource.

Education: Assessments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what arrangements his Department has agreed with examination boards in England on the timely marking of GCSE and A level papers in 2008; and on what dates he expects schools to release  (a) GCSE and  (b) A-level results to those sitting such examinations;
	(2)  what representations he has received from examination boards on progress in marking 2008 GCSE and A-level papers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The independent regulator, Ofqual, is responsible for monitoring the processes that are in place with awarding bodies for the timely marking of GCSE and A-level papers. It has regular discussions with awarding bodies about progress. It is Ofqual's assessment that awarding bodies are on course to release A-level results to candidates on 14 August and GCSE results on 21 August as planned.

Pre-school Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 280W, on pre-school education, which local authorities have childminding networks delivering the free entitlement.

Beverley Hughes: Figures from the 2008 Early Years Census show that 73 local authorities have childminding networks delivering the free entitlement offer. They are:
	Barnet
	Barnsley
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Bedfordshire
	Bexley
	Birmingham
	Blackpool
	Bournemouth
	Bradford
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Buckinghamshire
	Calderdale
	Cambridgeshire
	City of Kingston Upon Hull
	Cornwall
	Croydon
	Cumbria
	Derbyshire
	Devon
	Dorset
	Dudley
	Durham
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	East Sussex
	Essex
	Gloucestershire
	Hampshire
	Herefordshire
	Hertfordshire
	Isles of Scilly
	Kent
	Kirklees
	Lancashire
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lincolnshire
	Manchester
	Medway
	Milton Keynes
	Norfolk
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Somerset
	North Yorkshire
	Northamptonshire
	Nottinghamshire
	Oxfordshire
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Poole
	Portsmouth
	Richmond Upon Thames
	Rochdale
	Rutland
	Sefton
	Sheffield
	Somerset
	South Gloucestershire
	Southampton
	Southend-on-Sea
	Staffordshire
	Stockport
	Surrey
	Swindon
	Telford and Wrekin
	Thurrock
	Torbay
	Warwickshire
	West Berkshire
	West Sussex
	Wiltshire
	Worcestershire
	York

Secondary Education: Stoke on Trent

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what submissions his Department has received from Stoke-on-Trent City Council in respect of its preferred option for the reorganisation of the city's secondary schools; what response his Department has made to the latest submission; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the relevant correspondence.

Jim Knight: Stoke-on-Trent city council has not made a formal submission to the Department in respect of its current plans to reorganise the city's secondary schools through Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
	The council has been reviewing its plans for secondary schools, following the decision to place its Children and Young People's Services under Government intervention in 2006, and we have been discussing these plans with it. We have asked the council to set out its vision for transforming secondary education through a 'Strategy for Change' for BSF. This strategy should explain how it proposes to raise secondary school standards and aspirations and address falling pupil numbers in the city. We expect this to be submitted to the Department shortly.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Batteries: Waste Disposal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of discarded portable household batteries which have been  (a) recycled in the UK,  (b) sent to landfill and  (c) exported for recycling in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 10 July 2008
	Most of the 25-30,000 tonnes of portable batteries that are placed on the market each year are currently sent to landfill. At present only about 600 tonnes are collected for recycling. The EU batteries directive sets targets that 25 per cent. of portable batteries placed on the market should be collected by 2012 and 45 per cent. by 2016.
	Of the 600 tonnes of batteries collected some types are recycled in the UK (e.g. button cells) though some of the more common types (e.g. alkaline) are exported to other EU countries for recycling since at present there are no such facilities in the UK.

Batteries: Waste Disposal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards establishing a compliance system for the recycling of household batteries to ensure producer responsibility.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 10 July 2008
	The consultation on a producer responsibility scheme for household, industrial and automotive car batteries closed in March. 113 responses were received. We published a Government response to the consultation on 1 July and are now preparing draft regulations. We will consult stakeholders on these regulations in the autumn.

Biofuels

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to develop and promote sustainability criteria for the production of agrofuels.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is working closely with the Department for Transport, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and other domestic and international partners to ensure that policies incentivise the use of the most sustainable biomass fuels for heat and power generation and transport biofuels, with strong safeguards against unsustainable production.
	The UK is playing a full part in current EU negotiations on sustainability requirements for both the renewable energy and fuel quality directives. We are pressing for robust sustainability standards for all biomass fuels. Domestically, the renewable transport fuel obligation is designed to encourage the use of only the right sort of transport biofuels. Fuel suppliers have to report on the carbon savings of their biofuels and their wider environmental impacts. We are taking forward the key findings of the Gallagher review which looked at the indirect effects of biofuels on land use change and the consequences for greenhouse gas savings, and the effects on food prices.

Carbon Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken to  (a) encourage other countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and  (b) assist poor countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 July 2008
	The UK Government are happy with the decision taken at the UN climate change conference in Bali in December to begin negotiations on a global climate change agreement to reduce emissions. This will be agreed in Copenhagen in 2009.
	A key part of the negotiation process will be to look at how all countries, developed and developing, could reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and how the developed world could support developing countries.

Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations have been funded by his Department to conduct research on personal carbon trading in the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The Government have recently completed an initial assessment of the potential value of personal carbon trading, compared to other approaches to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The study explored some key issues highlighted by an initial scoping study produced for DEFRA by the Centre for Sustainable Energy in November 2006.
	The following DEFRA-funded research was published in May:
	the technical feasibility and potential cost of personal carbon trading, which was produced by Accenture;
	the distributional impacts of personal carbon trading, by the Centre for Sustainable Energy; and
	an assessment of the public acceptability of personal carbon trading, by Enviros and Opinion Leader.
	In addition to this research, DEFRA provided a grant to the RSA (The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) which has been leading a three year project into this area.

Carbon Emissions: Government Departments

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  through what mechanism payments to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund are made by individual Departments; and whether the calculation of the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to be offset is made by the relevant Department or by the fund;
	(2)  who administers the operation of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.

Phil Woolas: Individual Departments calculate their total air mileage, subdivided into domestic, short haul and long haul flights. From these figures, the emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and the costs of offsetting them, are calculated using agreed formulae. This information is passed on to DEFRA, which then makes a formal request for payment into the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund holding account by the relevant Department.
	EEA Fund Management administers the operation of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.

Climate Change

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from the Breaking the Climate Deadlock group on climate change.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) and myself have not received representations from the Breaking the Climate Deadlock group. However, DEFRA officials have recently met and maintain regular contact with the chief executive of the Climate Group, which has been working closely with Breaking the Climate Deadlock.

Domestic Wastes: Recycling

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of household waste was recycled in each English local authority area in 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 9 July 2008
	 The household recycling and composting rates for all English local authorities are calculated from data submitted to WasteDataFlow by local authorities. Figures for 2006-07 and the most recent two quarters published are in a table which I will deposit in the House Library.
	Recycling and composting rates are affected by seasonal variation in waste generation and therefore the rates for the financial year 2007-08 may be notably different to the figures given in the table.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 245W, on waste disposal: domestic waste, when the research reports on  (a) bonfire smoke complaints and  (b) emissions of dioxins will be placed in the Library.

Joan Ruddock: I can confirm that the reports in question were deposited in the House Library on 30 January.

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are in place for the Environment Agency to co-ordinate catchment flood management plans with river basin management and the EU Water Framework Directive, with particular reference to policy on land use changes.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency works to ensure that flood risk management and environmental protection are brought together in the River Basin Management Plans required under the Water Framework Directive.
	Catchment Flood Management Plans set out the Environment Agency's flood risk management policies. These need to be incorporated in the River Basin Management Plans so that the plans complement each other. The teams working on both sets of plans liaise regularly on the issues.

Flood Control: Training

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of levels of provision of training of flood defence and drainage engineers to ensure sufficient trained engineers in the future.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 July 2008
	We commissioned a comprehensive report on Engineering Skills for Flood Risk Management from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), which was produced in October 2004. This followed the ICE's review floods of the autumn 2000 floods.
	The Environment Agency has had a capacity plan since May 2004 and a three year strategy to address the civil engineering skills shortage since August 2005. The Environment Agency also operate a Foundation Degree in Science for River and Coastal Engineering and have a new Graduate Training Programme. These are both supported by national recruitment campaigns.
	The Environment Agency is currently reviewing its skills and capacity strategy in the light of various reports following the summer 2007 floods.

Flooding: Gloucestershire

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with the Environment Agency the condition of the Glynbridge Gardens site of the River Chelt in Swindon village, Gloucestershire following the 2007 flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I am aware that the Glynbridge Gardens area of Cheltenham was badly affected by flooding last summer. The Environment Agency is currently repairing damage to the river banks and flood defences along George Readings Way. The agency is also excavating material from the river channel to improve the capacity of the River Chelt. This work will be completed by the end of August and will reduce the risk of flooding in the future.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what types of critical infrastructure were categorised as at risk of flooding by the Environment Agency in each of the last five years; and how many of each type were categorised in each year;
	(2)  when the Environment Agency's list of critical infrastructure at risk of flooding was last updated; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency commissioned a major project in 2007 to map and improve its understanding of flood vulnerability at a national scale. The resulting database, which draws heavily on information held by other parties, provides a summary of vulnerability to flooding in each 100 metres of land in England and Wales.
	The following table sets out a summary of the Receptors Vulnerable to Flooding database. It shows the number of infrastructure assets, divided into sectors, that are at either a significant, moderate or low flood risk probability. Where the following definitions of flood risk probability are used:
	Significant: the chance of flooding in any year is greater than 1.3 per cent. (1 in 75)
	Moderate: the chance of flooding in any year is 1.3 per cent. (1 in 75) or less, but greater than 0.5 per cent. (1 in 200)
	Low: the chance of flooding in any year is 0.5 per cent. (1 in 200) or less.
	
		
			  Environment Agency study showing infrastructure overlain on flood risk maps (river and sea flood plains) 
			   Number of sites in flood zone (flood risk probability) 
			  Asset  Significant  (1 in 75)  Moderate  (1 in 75-200)  Low (1 in 200  or fewer)  Total in all three zones 
			 Water and sewerage 737 223 179 1,145 
			 Electricity (generation and distribution) 2,215 2,263 3,818 8,423 
			 Gas (works and distribution) 5 8 10 23 
			 Telephone exchanges 82 67 86 241 
			 Motorways (km) 139 104 132 382 
			 A roads (km) 884 553 809 2,278 
			 Railway lines (km) 1,470 750 948 3,213 
		
	
	As the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated in the House on 25 June, electricity and water providers are responsible for ensuring continuity of supply. The electricity industry has identified just over 1,000 grid and primary sites which are in flood zones, and is working with the Environment Agency to see which of these might need additional protection. Every water company is reviewing how its critical assets may be at risk from flooding in order to prioritise investment plans. This information will be used as the basis of a planned nationwide programme to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure which Government will produce later this year.

Food: Wastes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to reduce food waste by  (a) producers,  (b) wholesalers,  (c) processors,  (d) retailers and  (e) consumers.

Joan Ruddock: The Government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is working with stakeholders across the food sector—producers, wholesalers, processors, retailers and consumers—to tackle the problem of food waste. For example:
	The Courtauld Commitment between WRAP and major food and drink retailers and manufacturers aims to reduce packaging waste and 'to identify ways to tackle the problem of food waste'.
	WRAP will also be running a programme jointly with Envirowise to help the industry reduce packaging and food waste in the grocery supply chain.
	WRAP provides an advisory service to local authorities on their waste collection arrangements, and has been involved in managing a series of food waste collection trials in 19 local authority areas. Where appropriate, WRAP is able to advise local authorities to consider opportunities for the co-collection of food waste from commercial premises with food waste from domestic properties.
	WRAP is running a consumer-facing campaign, "Love Food Hate Waste", to encourage behaviour change. The campaign is being delivered in partnership with stakeholders from across the food industry and retail sector, and organisations such as the Food Standards Agency and the women's institute. Its aim is to develop practical advice, to help people get the most from the food they buy, and to waste less of it.
	DEFRA is also working closely with the food industry to improve its environmental impact through the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS). The FISS targets a reduction in the food industry's own wastes of 15-20 per cent. by 2010. In responding to the targets outlined in the FISS Champions' Group on Waste report to Ministers last May, the Food and Drink Federation's "Five Fold Environmental Ambition/Making a real difference" document set themselves a target to send zero waste to landfill by 2015.

Forests: Genetically Modified Organisms

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the environmental implications of the release of genetically-modified trees.

Phil Woolas: Under European Union legislation, any proposed release of a genetically modified (GM) organism is subject to a case-by-case risk assessment, based on appropriate scientific evidence. This process considers all the conceivable risk factors, including the potential for gene transfer to other organisms. Approval for a release will only be granted if the evidence indicates that it will not have any adverse effect on human health and the environment.
	No releases of GM trees have been proposed in the UK in recent years. Trial releases in England of GM apple, eucalyptus and poplar plants were approved and completed in the 1990s.

Hazardous Substances: Fly Tipping

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many instances of fly-tipping involving hazardous waste have been investigated by the Environment Agency in each of the last five years; and how many such investigations have resulted in convictions.

Joan Ruddock: The following table shows hazardous waste fly-tipping incidents, investigations and convictions data that has been taken from the Environment Agency's National Incident Recording System.
	The term 'investigated' means that the incident has been attended or evidence has been provided by a trusted third party. Additionally not all incidents that are reported as being 'hazardous' are ultimately confirmed as such. Cases can also take many months or even years to be brought to court.
	Due to changes in Environment Agency data recording systems and methods, figures prior to 2004 are not comparable.
	
		
			  Hazardous waste fly-tipping 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Reported incidents 551 478 294 308 
			 Incidents investigated 404 321 204 215 
			 Convictions 1 6 7 3 
		
	
	These figures do not include local authority prosecutions, because it is not possible to distinguish between prosecutions for hazardous and non-hazardous fly-tipping incidents.

Incinerators: Waste Disposal

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the results of the sampling studies which informed the recently revised Environment Agency WM2 guidance on incinerator bottom ash.

Joan Ruddock: The recent revision to WM2 (technical guidance on the interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous wastes) was required due to changes to European chemical legislation (approved supply list) and was not the result of any sampling studies on incinerator bottom ash.

Incinerators: Waste Disposal

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether further changes are proposed to Environment Agency WM2 guidance on incinerator bottom ash; and if he will undertake public consultation on any further changes.

Joan Ruddock: The Environment Agency does not propose any further changes to WM2 (technical guidance on the interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous wastes) at this time.
	The recent review to the chapter on the assessment of ecotoxicity was published on 16 May 2008. The assessment of ecotoxicity is applicable to all wastes and not just incinerator bottom ash. This review underwent external consultation in October 2007, as would any change to WM2.

Incinerators: Waste Disposal

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to incorporate small waste oil burners within the remit of the European Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC).

Joan Ruddock: Regulators may determine that some devices—such as small waste oil burners—in which waste is burnt lack the technical sophistication which would place them within the definition of plants which are subject to the waste incineration directive. The use of such devices may nevertheless be subject to other controls such as those under the waste framework directive (2006/12/EC) or national environmental legislation.

Recycling: Catering

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirements and regulations are in place on recycling of glass, plastic and metal waste products by businesses in the catering and hospitality industries.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 10 July 2008
	There are no sector specific requirements or regulations in place for recycling by businesses in the catering and hospitality industries. However, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations oblige businesses in the packaging chain which have an annual turnover of more than £2 million, and which handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, to recover and recycle a specified amount of packaging waste. This amount is determined, in part, by the amount of packaging handled. The packaging recovery note (PRN) system was established as the mechanism for businesses to provide evidence of compliance with these Regulations.
	Businesses with a lower annual turnover, or handling a lower tonnage of packaging, were excluded from the obligation in order to lessen the regulatory burden on small businesses.

Seas and Oceans: Biodiversity

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned into the  (a) feasibility and  (b) environmental consequences of ocean fertilisation.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is not undertaking or commissioning research in this area.
	The issue of ocean fertilisation has been considered under the convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter (London convention 1972) and its protocol, global legal instruments to which the UK is a contracting party. In 2007 the convention's scientific group released a statement of concern that
	'knowledge about the effectiveness and potential environmental impacts of ocean fertilisation currently was insufficient to justify large-scale operations'.
	This statement was endorsed at the meeting of the convention and protocol in November 2007. A legal intercessional correspondence group has been set up, coordinated by DEFRA, which is working with our international colleagues to review how the framework of the convention and its protocol would apply to fertilisation. Its findings will be considered at the next meeting of the London convention and protocol in October.

Warm Front Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applicants were offered a grant from the Warm Front scheme but declined it in  (a) St. Ives constituency,  (b) Cornwall and  (c) England in each year since 2000; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for those declined grants.

Phil Woolas: The following table illustrates the number of Warm Front applications cancelled at the client's request and the associated number of households assisted.
	No patterns in reason for cancellation have been identified, however the most common reasons include:
	client moving accommodation/applicant deceased;
	wishing to retain funds for heating repairs in the future; and
	not interested.
	
		
			   Scheme year 
			  Area  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 St. Ives Constituency 2 10 17 94 30 37 56 82 
			 Cornwall (Falmouth and Cambourne, North and South East Cornwall, St. Ives, Truro and St. Austell constituencies) 16 42 120 366 191 168 264 439 
			 England (all) 468 2,008 5,344 12,192 13,476 15,670 25,062 40,410 
			  
			 England (Households assisted)(1) 75,434 190,233 169,285 143,403 134,811 117,610 227,239 238,878 
			 (1) Figures provided are based on known receipt of measure, i.e. provision of compact fluorescent light bulbs and/or installation of at least one main measure.

Warm Front Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people resident in Stroud constituency applied for Warm Front grants in each year since 2000; how many of these were successful; how many were unable to proceed with the works in each year; and how many received a grant to cover partial costs only in each year.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 July 2008
	I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Waste Management: Prisons

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1244W, on waste management: prisons, whether Schedule 2 producers may be charged for waste  (a) collection and  (b) disposal.

Joan Ruddock: Local authorities are entitled to charge all schedule 2 producers for waste collection, but not disposal.

Whales: Japan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Japan on the illicit trade in whale-meat from Japan's scientific whaling programme.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have not discussed this issue specifically with the Japanese Government.
	I have taken note of the allegations made by Greenpeace. The UK Government continue to oppose all forms of whaling apart from some limited subsistence whaling when there is a substantiated need. The UK has also protested against Japan's 'scientific' whaling operations, which we argue are unjustified, cruel and unnecessary, at every appropriate opportunity.
	Most recently, the UK maintained its strong anti-whaling position at the annual International Whaling Commission meeting which was held in Santiago, Chile in June 2008.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason he has asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to respond to the question 216797 tabled to him by the hon. Member for Vale of York, on 3 July 2008, on development in flood risk areas, pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 776W, on flood control: planning; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I referred the hon. Member's question to Communities and Local Government as it is the Department which has responsibility for planning issues.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Construction: Waste Disposal

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on progress made towards the zero waste construction target in the Thames Gateway area.

Caroline Flint: We are continuing to investigate how we might make the Gateway a 'zero construction waste zone' including through work with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the private and public sector stakeholders to determine the costs and deliverability of doing so.

Co-operative Party

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings  (a) she and  (b) Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of (i) the Co-operative Party and (ii) the Co-operative Group on eco-towns.

Caroline Flint: There have been no meetings between Ministers in Communities and Local Government and either the Co-operative Party or the Co-operative Group on eco-towns. In my role as Housing Minister I was invited by my hon. Friend for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) to speak about eco-towns at the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum's annual summer dinner, which was attended by their members, including representatives from the Co-operative Group. I was pleased to attend and speak at this event on 25 June 2008.

Council Tax: Second Homes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties are entitled to a second home council tax discount; and what proportion of these are charged at  (a) 50 per cent.,  (b) 90 per cent. and  (c) another proportion of the full charge.

John Healey: As at September 2007, local billing authorities reported there were 239,000 properties recorded as second homes for council tax purposes in England. Of these 16 per cent. of the properties were charged at 50 per cent. of the full council tax charge, 82 per cent. were charged at 90 per cent. of the full council tax charge and the remaining 2 per cent. were charged at another proportion of the full charge.

Council Tax: Second Homes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which council tax billing authorities have exercised the power to charge  (a) 90 per cent. and  (b) between 50 per cent. and 90 per cent. of the council tax charge on second homes.

John Healey: I have today placed in the Library, a table containing details of the authorities in England that have exercised the power to charge  (a) 90 per cent. and  (b) between 50 per cent. and 90 per cent. of the council tax charge on second homes.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on which buildings occupied by her Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following buildings, which are leased and occupied by the Communities and Local Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies, have leases due for renewal in the next four years.
	 Audit Commission
	2nd Floor, Witham House, The Pelham Centre, Canwick Road, Lincoln, LN5 8HE
	Part 4th Floor, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2UG
	Suite 1, Observer House, Horsefair, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 5DE
	Part Grd Floor, Opus House, Priestly Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Beaconside, Stafford, ST18 0LQ
	2nd Floor, Sheffield House, Lytton Way, off Gates Way, Stevenage, SG1 3HB
	Rooms 201-205, Crosskill House, Mill Lane, Beverley, HU17 9JB
	1st Floor Rear, 16 South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1AN
	 Community Development Foundation
	Baltic Chambers, Units 301-309, 50 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ
	The Geoffrey Hubbard Building, The Michael Young Centre, Purbeck Road, Cambridge, CB2 2HM
	Josephs Well, Suites 6D and 4D Josephs Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds, LS3 1AB
	 English Partnerships
	Fairburn Hse, Park Lane, Allerton Bywater, West Yorks WF10 2AT
	81 Station Road, Ashford, Kent
	110 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SA
	 Firebuy
	St. David's House 70 Wray Park Road Reigate Surrey RH2 0EJ
	 Housing Corporation
	Beaufort House, 51 New North Road, Exeter EX4 4EP
	Attenborough House, 109-119 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FQ
	 London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
	Wyndham House, 189 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SH
	 Ordnance Survey
	Furlong House Dodington Ash Bristol BS37 6RU
	BLDG 3 Eastern Bus Pk Cardiff CF3 5EA
	Unit 9 The Tech Centre East Kilbride Glasgow G75 0QD
	Shield House Harlow CM9 5AR
	Langstone Tech Pk Havant P09 1SA
	Unit 8 The Pavilions Lytham FY4 2DP
	Unit 8 the Point Market Harborough LE16 7QU
	Triangle Bus Pk Merthyr Tydfil CF48 4YB
	Algo Bus Centre Perth PH2 ONJ
	Peartree Bus Centre Poole BH21 7PP
	 Valuation Tribunal
	Block One Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC IV 1NY
	2nd Floor Walton House 11 Parade Leamington Spa Warks CV32 4DG
	3rd Floor Pearl Assurance House Friar Lane Nottingham NG1 6BT
	The Hollies Newport Road Stafford ST16 1BY
	34 Greenhill Way Harrow Middlesex HA1 1LE
	2nd Floor Black Lion House 45 Whitechapel Road London E1 1DU
	17-18 Navigation Business Village Navigation Way Ashton-on-Ribble Preston PR2 2YP
	Ground Floor, Block B, Southfield House, Southfield Way, Durham DH1 5JY
	Upper Ground Floor Parkside Grove Road Weston-Super-Mare North Somerset BS23 2AA

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in her Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not compile ongoing records for this information. A spot check conducted overnight in one departmental headquarter building (Eland House) during July 2008 established that computer devices left on overnight when not in use represented 2.3 per cent. of total computer devices within that building.
	Departmental records for this information have not been compiled and do not exist for the last five years.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her  (a) Department and  (b) Department's agencies have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Parmjit Dhanda: 166 staff from Communities and Local Government and 26 staff in the Department's agencies have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Departmental Email

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) civil servants,  (b) Ministers and  (c) special advisers in her Department are permitted to access webmail accounts from departmental computers.

Parmjit Dhanda: All staff (inclusive of those aforementioned) can access webmail for personal use and for emailing non-protectively marked information. However, this is currently under review.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of staff of her Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table shows the proportion of staff who did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Staff below senior civil service  Senior civil service 
			 2006-07 73 100 
			 2005-06 87 100 
		
	
	Pay settlements for 2008 have not yet been agreed. Staff below the SCS who received an overall 'exceeded' marking in their 2005-06 and 2005-06 performance report received a non-consolidated performance award, paid as a non-pensionable lump sum.
	The maximum bonus for SCS staff in each of the last two years was 20 per cent. of existing salary. No members of the SCS received a bonus of 20 per cent. of existing salary in these periods.
	In Communities and Local Government, bonus payments are made to those members of staff who are found to have made a significant contribution towards the achievement of the team's, and/or Department's, objectives. Individuals are expected to show that they have exceeded the requirements set for the achievement of the objective and have demonstrated exemplary behaviour in doing so.
	Our senior civil service staff members are also assessed against a range of factors, such as:
	The achievement of their prime objective which focuses on the way in which they lead, manage and develop their staff;
	Degree to which business objectives are met;
	Delivery for Ministers;
	Demonstration of skills such as judgement, leadership and the PSG skills;
	Effective resource management.
	Details of bonuses paid in the Department's agencies are not held centrally.

Deprivation Indicators

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will rank  (a) the bottom 100 super output areas as measured by the index of multiple deprivation, showing the local authority in each case and  (b) the bottom 100 local authority wards as measures by the index.

John Healey: The following table lists the lowest ranked 100 (i.e. most deprived) super output areas by local authority.
	As the index is not produced at ward level I am unable to supply the list of the lowest ranked 100 local authority wards.
	
		
			  Lower super output area code  LA name  GOR name  Rank of IMD (where 1 is most deprived) 
			 E01006755 Liverpool North West 1 
			 E01005204 Manchester North West 2 
			 E01021988 Tendring East of England 3 
			 E01012721 Blackpool North West 4 
			 E01006778 Liverpool North West 5 
			 E01006467 Knowsley North West 6 
			 E01006559 Liverpool North West 7 
			 E01006561 Liverpool North West 8 
			 E01006468 Knowsley North West 9 
			 E01012673 Blackpool North West 10 
			 E01005484 Rochdale North West 11 
			 E01006676 Liverpool North West 12 
			 E01024858 Burnley North West 13 
			 E01008836 Sunderland North East 14 
			 E01005482 Rochdale North West 15 
			 E01009585 Coventry West Midlands 16 
			 E01005466 Rochdale North West 17 
			 E01009365 Birmingham West Midlands 18 
			 E01006647 Liverpool North West 19 
			 E01006469 Knowsley North West 20 
			 E01013137 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and The Humber 21 
			 E01007532 Doncaster Humber 22 
			 E01012070 Middlesbrough North East 23 
			 E01006599 Liverpool North West 24 
			 E01006703 Liverpool North West 25 
			 E01007122 Wirral North West 26 
			 E01006740 Liverpool North West 27 
			 E01008380 Newcastle upon Tyne North East 28 
			 E01006646 Liverpool North West 29 
			 E01012720 Blackpool North West 30 
			 E01012041 Middlesbrough North East 31 
			 E01006699 Liverpool North West 32 
			 E01006563 Liverpool North West 33 
			 E01006560 Liverpool North West 34 
			 E01012655 Blackburn with Darwen North West 35 
			 E01013818 Nottingham East Midlands 36 
			 E01006756 Liverpool North West 37 
			 E01010606 Bradford Yorkshire and The Humber 38 
			 E01005067 Manchester North West 39 
			 E01005658 Salford North West 40 
			 E01012875 Kingston upon Hull, City of Yorkshire and The Humber 41 
			 E01006442 Knowsley North West 42 
			 E01007127 Wirral North West 43 
			 E01012678 Blackpool North West 44 
			 E01006674 Liverpool North West 45 
			 E01006630 Liverpool North West 46 
			 E01005568 Rochdale North West 47 
			 E01024908 Burnley North West 48 
			 E01006777 Liverpool North West 49 
			 E01005256 Manchester North West 50 
			 E01006732 Liverpool North West 51 
			 E01005655 Salford North West 52 
			 E01006679 Liverpool North West 53 
			 E01028276 Mansfield East Midlands 54 
			 E01006704 Liverpool North West 55 
			 E01005350 Oldham North West 56 
			 E01005196 Manchester North West 57 
			 E01006540 Liverpool North West 58 
			 E01013139 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and The Humber 59 
			 E01010485 Wolverhampton West Midlands 60 
			 E01013136 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and The Humber 61 
			 E01024877 Burnley North West 62 
			 E01005228 Manchester North West 63 
			 E01006515 Liverpool North West and The 64 
			 E01010617 Bradford Yorkshire Humber 65 
			 E01009488 Birmingham West Midlands 66 
			 E01025041 Hyndburn North West 67 
			 E01008291 Newcastle upon Tyne North East 68 
			 E01012266 Stockton-on-Tees North East 69 
			 E01020909 Wear Valley North East 70 
			 E01012069 Middlesbrough North East 71 
			 E01010823 Bradford Yorkshire and The Humber 72 
			 E01012114 Redcar and Cleveland North East 73 
			 E01005096 Manchester North West 74 
			 E01009358 Birmingham West Midlands 75 
			 E01006779 Liverpool North West 76 
			 E01006677 Liverpool North West 77 
			 E01009476 Birmingham West Midlands 78 
			 E01006558 Liverpool North West 79 
			 E01012897 Kingston upon Hull, City Yorkshire and the Humber 80 
			 E01008011 Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber 81 
			 E01006598 Liverpool North West 82 
			 E01005099 Manchester North West 83 
			 E01005203 Manchester North West 84 
			 E01006760 Liverpool North West 85 
			 E01009379 Birmingham West Midlands 86 
			 E01025286 Preston North West 87 
			 E01006417 Knowsley North West 88 
			 E01005667 Salford North West 89 
			 E01005612 Salford North West 90 
			 E01007132 Wirral North West 91 
			 E01008214 Gateshead North East 92 
			 E01015842 Southend-on-Sea East of England 93 
			 E01005205 Manchester North West 94 
			 E01007133 Wirral North West 95 
			 E01006470 Knowsley North West 96 
			 E01007128 Wirral North West 97 
			 E01015155 Plymouth South West 98 
			 E01006746 Liverpool North West 99 
			 E01005613 Salford North West 100

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 950W, on economic and monetary union, if she will place in the Library a copy of  (a) her Department's euro changeover plan as updated in June 2007 and  (b) the plans of each of the agencies and non-departmental public bodies listed in the Answer.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Communities and Local Government euro changeover plan was placed in the Library in February 2006.
	There has been no change of note to Communities and Local Government and its agencies and NDPB's euro changeover plans since then.
	It is therefore not proposed, for this reason, to place a copy of such plans in the Library at the present time.

Eco-towns

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 715, on eco-towns, whether the required planning consents for eco-town developments will be determined exclusively by local planning authorities.

Caroline Flint: We would expect applications for eco-towns to be considered as a planning application by the appropriate local planning authority unless called in by the Secretary of State. In such cases these powers would be used in accordance with normal and established practice in development control.

Eco-towns: Motor Vehicles

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, column 38W, on eco-towns: motor vehicles, how the composition of a New Town corporation will be determined in circumstances where her Department judges such a delivery vehicle is required; and what role in determining planning applications relating to eco-town developments such a corporation would have.

Caroline Flint: We would only use these powers in exceptional circumstances to support delivery of complex and challenging developments, and where partner local authorities could see benefit in the exercise of these powers, for example where the task of infrastructure provision and related investment was of a scale where a statutory body would have significant advantages. We have no current plans to establish a body.

Eco-towns: North East Elsenham

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the proposed eco-town development at North East Elsenham on the surrounding economies in East Hertfordshire, with particular reference to the economy of Bishop's Stortford;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the likely locations for employment of residents of the proposed eco-town development at North East Elsenham if the development proceeds.

Caroline Flint: We have published the initial assessments of all the proposed locations, including Elsenham, on our website, and we are further reviewing the issues raised there, including impacts on growth and regeneration of the surrounding areas for these locations.
	We have assessed Elsenham and all the eco-town proposals against a criteria relating to jobs and the outcomes we expect to see. This includes developing a clear strategy to maximise employment opportunities and enabling links to existing clusters of employment. We will also be consulting on employment and the other criteria in the draft planning policy statement on eco-towns.

Eco-towns: Planning

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the provision of  (a) roads,  (b) railways,  (c) water and  (d) sewage infrastructure serving eco-towns will be (i) governed by the general frameworks set in National Policy Statements and (ii) determined by the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1037W, given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), and 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 788W, given to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps).

Eco-towns: Public Participation

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what geographical criteria were used when selecting interviewees for the Andrew Irving Associates YouGov survey on eco-towns, published by her Department on 30 June; what information was provided to these interviewees before their interview; and if she will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the commissioning brief for and  (b) the results of the survey.

Caroline Flint: With regards to the geographical criteria used in selecting interviewees for the recent YouGov survey on eco-towns, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on Monday 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1355W.
	No information was provided to respondents beforehand as the survey sought to ascertain their current knowledge and opinions. The omnibus survey was commissioned verbally so we cannot provide a copy of the commissioning brief but the results of the survey will be placed in the Library.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which public agency will be responsible for  (a) enforcing the display energy certificate requirements and  (b) issuing fines for breaches of such requirements.

Caroline Flint: Local authority trading standards officers will be responsible for compliance with the requirements and will issue civil financial penalties where appropriate.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the impact assessment for display energy certificates.

Caroline Flint: The impact assessment for display energy certificates forms part of the 'Regulatory Impact Assessment Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Articles 7-10', published in March 2007. This was deposited in the Library on 23 March 2007.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has provided on compliance with the display energy certificates requirements.

Caroline Flint: The Department produced, 'A guide to Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports for public buildings' which was published in May. This guidance was produced in consultation with a range of stakeholders. It explains among other things what a DEC is, how it should be produced and how the requirement will be enforced.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much the Essex Fire and Rescue Service spent on  (a) overseas training courses and  (b) overseas conferences or visits in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many administrative staff from Essex Fire and Rescue Service attended the conference in Texas in June 2008 attended by the service's chief and assistant fire officers;
	(3)  what the gross salaries, including bonuses and other benefits, of the chief and assistant chief fire officers of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service were in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(4)  who was in operational command of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service in the absence of the chief fire officer and assistant chief fire officer in June 2008;
	(5)  how much the attendance of the chief fire officer and assistant chief fire officer of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service at the fire safety conference in Texas in June 2008 cost the public purse.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and is a matter for Essex Fire and Rescue Authority.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of those compiling home information packs supplemented the required local searches with searches commissioned by home buyers since the introduction of the packs.

Caroline Flint: Given the confidential relationship between solicitors and their clients it is not currently possible to accurately obtain data on this issue.

Homelessness

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of homeless households had duty discharged to them because they rejected temporary accommodation offered in  (a) England,  (b) each region and  (c) each London local authority in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Homes and Communities Agency

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what functions relating to the Thames Gateway undertaken by the Thames Gateway Executive she plans to transfer to the Homes and Communities Agency prior to March 2009; what the timescale for such transfers is; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 11-12WS, by my right hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper).
	Subject to progress with the Housing and Regeneration Bill, we plan to set up the Homes and Community Agency in April 2009, and for the transfer of functions to be complete by then. However, in order to give greater certainty to staff and stakeholders, and to bring forward the benefits of the new Agency, we are exploring the scope for accelerating its establishment.

Housing and Planning Delivery Grant

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what final allocation criteria are being used for housing and planning delivery grant; what the timetable is for the first payments to be assessed and made; and what performance indicators will be collected from local authorities for the purposes of the delivery grant allocation;
	(2)  how much her Department has allocated for the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant in each year of the current Spending Review period.

Caroline Flint: The consultation paper Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) consultation on the allocation mechanism, published in October 2007, set out proposed allocations in each year of the current spending review period as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2008-09 £100 
			 2009-10 £160 
			 2010-11 £250 
		
	
	Confirmation of the final allocation mechanism and provisional allocations for the current spending period will be announced shortly. Payments will follow in autumn this year. Assessment criteria for allocations will be based on data collected as part of the local performance framework national indicator set.

Housing: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the surplus in the national housing revenue account was in 2007-08; what estimate she has made of the likely account surplus in each of the next five years; and to what use the account surplus is put.

Caroline Flint: There was no national surplus in 2007-08 arising from the housing revenue account subsidy calculations. Our current estimate of the potential surplus in 2008-09 is £195 million. It is too soon to say what the actual figure for the current financial year will be, but it will be different from estimates depending on factors such as interest rates, and the dwelling stock remaining in local authority ownership.
	Beyond 2008-09, our forecasts will depend on decisions yet to be taken by Ministers on the annual housing revenue account subsidy determination, on which we aim to consult shortly with local authorities.

Housing: Standards

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the home-building industry adopts lifetime homes standards in new housing.

Caroline Flint: As stated in the National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society, in the first instance Lifetime Homes Standards will be a mandatory element in the Code for Sustainable Homes at level 6 from 2008, at level 4 from 2010 and level 3 from 2013. This will have the effect of ensuring that all public sector funded housing is built to Lifetime Homes Standards from 2011.
	We will also monitor how the take up of Lifetime Homes Standards is working in the new home market generally and will undertake a review of progress across all sectors in 2010. We will then consider whether further measures are necessary.
	In the meantime we have established a Building Regulations Advisory Committee Working Group to look at the issue of Adaptable Housing and Lifetime Homes. We will also work with stakeholders to develop further technical guidance for designers and developers who wish to include the standards in new homes.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in establishing a Green Homes Service in the Thames Gateway area; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department is currently developing proposals for energy advice services for the Thames Gateway with the Energy Savings Trust, which will be supported by up to £1.5 million of CLG funding.

Local Authorities: Community Relations

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements she plans to impose on local authorities to establish a tension monitoring committee; and whether such groups will monitor  (a) complaints of noise nuisance and  (b) high hedge disputes.

Parmjit Dhanda: Tension monitoring is not a mandatory requirement for local authorities.
	"The Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion contingency planning and tension monitoring", published on 6 May 2008, sets a framework which each local authority can use to monitor local issues that may lead to tension and to put plans into operation if a problem is identified. These issues could include complaints about noise nuisance or high hedge disputes. It is up to each local authority to determine the scope of their tension monitoring and contingency planning.

Local Authorities: Community Relations

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the functions of local authority tension monitoring groups will include monitoring the activities of local political parties.

Parmjit Dhanda: "Guidance for Local Authorities on Community Cohesion Contingency Planning and Tension Monitoring" published on 6 May 2008, sets a framework which local authorities can use to monitor local issues that may lead to local community tensions and to put plans into operation if a problem is identified. It is up to each local authority to determine the scope of their tension monitoring and contingency planning.

Parish Councils

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria parish councils are required to meet to be eligible to use the power of well-being.

Parmjit Dhanda: The conditions which must be met for a parish council to be eligible to use the well-being powers will be prescribed by order to be made under section 1(2) of the Local Government Act 2000 (inserted by section 77 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007). It is intended to make this Order before the end of 2008.

Property Development

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will put in place measures to inform local authorities to criminal convictions of development companies.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government have no plans to put such measures in place.

Recreation Spaces: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of open green space in the Thames Gateway area is managed to Green Flag award standards; and if she make a statement.

Caroline Flint: A total of 554 green spaces received a Green Flag Award in July 2007 and 28 sites are in the Thames Gateway area. This year's winners will be announced on the 17 July. A list of Green Flag Award winning parks is available on the Green Flag website at www.greenflagaward.org.uk and includes those in the Thames Gateway area.

Regional Planning and Development: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made towards the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan's objectives for the capital development programme of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation in respect of  (a) the Innogy site acquisition,  (b) the Carpet Right site in Rainham,  (c) the upgrade of Prescot Lock,  (d) the Barking town buy-backs and  (e) the Wildspace Conservation Park visitor centre.

Caroline Flint: The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation's Corporate Plan for 2008-09 to 2010-11 was published on 7 May 2008. The Corporate Plan sets out how they will investment some £237 million to take forward the strategic regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley and Barking-Havering Riverside areas.
	Progress on the individual developments is as follows:
	 (a) Innogy site acquisition (spend to date £18.85 million)
	This 26 acre site at Dagenham Dock was acquired by the corporation in May 2008 for around £18 million and will form part of the London Sustainable Industries Park, which is being developed jointly with the London Development Agency. The site has been acquired to provide premises for Environmental Technology Industries some of whom are being relocated to allow other projects in the London Thames Gateway to proceed as planned. The corporation are already in negotiation with a number of businesses and the first deals are expected to be agreed later this year.
	The first occupier of the Sustainable Industries Park, Closed Loop Recycling, the UK's first food grade plastics recycling facility, opened on 27 June. The plant will divert a significant amount of waste from landfill.
	 (b) Carpetr ight site in Rainham (spend to date £15.87  m illion )
	The seven acre site at New Road, Rainham was acquired by the corporation in March 2007 subject to a leaseback to Carpetright plc until May 2008. The deal helped facilitate the development of a new state of the art distribution centre for Carpetright in Thurrock and has released seven acres of land adjacent for new housing and jobs adjacent to Rainham Village centre.
	Agents have been appointed to seek a private sector partner to progress the project and the opportunity will be advertised later this month.
	In the meantime a contract to progress the demolition of most of the buildings on the site has been let and terms have been agreed to let another of the buildings to Havering College to establish a Construction Skills Training Centre. This will be a temporary facility while the corporation works with Havering College to develop a new 80,000 square foot campus on an adjoining site. This is planned to open in 2011.
	 (c) Upgrade of Prescott Lock (spend to date £5  m illion )
	The corporation has contributed £5 million towards the construction of water control structures in Prescott Channel and Three Mills Wall River. The project will achieve tidal exclusion and allow waterborne freight delivering construction materials to the Olympic Park. The project is located in a deprived area with the potential for future housing and other developments and will result in a number of environmental, social, leisure and health benefits through the creation of a useable waterway park, an increase in boat journeys, use of cycle paths and walkways. British Waterways is the delivery agent for the project and partners include the corporation, DFT and TfL.
	The project started on site in March 2007 and the planned completion date is now February 2009. This is slightly behind schedule due to land contamination issues and the discovery of an unexploded bomb on 2 June 2008 but the project is now on track to provide significant benefits to the local community by removing heavy goods vehicles from the road network and creating an improved environment for existing and new waterside homes and businesses.
	 (d) Canning Town buy-backs (spend to date £8.8 million)—there is no buy back programme  in Barking Town.
	The investment by the corporation of £9.9 million for the Canning Town buy-backs has helped to achieve vacant possession of most of the site ear-marked for the first phase of the Canning Town centre re-development. Only three properties now remain outstanding and negotiations with the owners are ongoing.
	Demolition work is progressing in parallel to clear the site. A panel of developers has now been appointed who will be invited to tender for the site in September 2008 with a start on site planned for summer 2010.
	 (e) Wildspace Conservation Park visitor centre (spend to date £1.9 million on related access and improvement projects)
	Wildspace is being developed as a flagship green space for the Thames Gateway on 1,500 acres in Havering and Thurrock. The corporation are working in partnership with a number of organisations including the local authorities the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Veolia to deliver a number of projects across the park. Projects completed to date include the Purfleet Environment and Visitor Centre (part funded by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and managed by the RSPB); The Rainham to Purfleet path and cycleway; Discovery Zones; and improved bus access routes to Ferry Lane. The Wildspace Project Board meet on 8 July to agree a detailed programme of work for the next five years.

Safer and Stronger Communities Fund: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding under the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund has been drawn down in the Thames Gateway area in each year since 1 April 2005, broken down by local authority area; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The information is provided in the following table. This shows amounts received by local authorities in the Thames Gateway area from the following CLG funding streams which merged to form the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund from April 2005: neighbourhood management pathfinders, the liveability fund, neighbourhood wardens, single community programme, the neighbourhood element, and the cleaner safer greener element. As 2005-06 was a transitional period, the figures include amounts paid in that year for funding streams that merged into the SSCF from April 2006.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Total 
			  Local authority  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Barking and Dagenham 285,546 81,007 0 
			 Bexley 0 0 0 
			 Greenwich 2,009,578 115,010 473,000 
			 Havering 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham 425,300 57,991 0 
			 Newham 426,853 1,551,901 1,646,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 701,970 2,048,142 2,162,000 
			 Thurrock 0 0 0 
			 Southend-on-Sea 0 412,800 516,000 
			 Castle Point 0 0 0 
			 Basildon 222,060 0 450,000 
			 Rochford 0 0 0 
			 Medway 1,725,000 0 0 
			 Swale 0 0 0 
			 Dartford 0 0 0 
			 Gravesham 0 0 0

Sustainable Development: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on the establishment of an eco-quarter in the Thames Gateway area in 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Thames Gateway Eco-Quarter concept was proposed in November 2007 in the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan, as an extension of the Eco-Towns programme. Further development of the Eco-Quarter concept is being considered in the context of the current ongoing work on Eco-town assessments, the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement and initial Eco-town selection.

Sustainable Development: Thames Gateway

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has allocated to fund the Thames Gateway element of  (a) the green homes project and  (b) the Act on CO2 advice line for 2008-09.

Caroline Flint: Over the next three years the Department has allocated up to 1.5 million to fund energy advice services to be provided through the Energy Saving Trust in the Thames Gateway.

Transport: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will provide a breakdown of the expenditure to date in respect of local transport projects identified for funding under the auspices of the Community Infrastructure Fund in the Thames Gateway area by main budget area; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The following table sets out the allocations to the Thames Gateway projects under the first round of the Community Infrastructure Fund.
	
		
			  Project  Allocation  ( million) 
			 FastrackEverard's Link 6.080 
			 FastrackThames Way 7.370 
			 Fryerns/Craylands, Basildon 5.896 
			 Langdon Park DLR Station 5.700 
			 Greenwich Waterfront Transit/East London Transit/DLR Bank-Lewisham 3 Car Upgrade 34.000 
			 Pontoon Dock Station Bridge 1.340 
			 Tidal Basin Roundabout 0.960 
			 Woolwich New Road 2.620 
		
	
	Expenditure on these projects was incurred in the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 except for two projects where flexibility has been formally agreed allowing the projects to spend the following amounts in 2008-09:
	Fastrack Everard's Link: 0.7 million; and
	Pontoon Dock Station Bridge:  1.277 million.
	These amounts are included in the total allocation figures for these projects shown in the table.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund: Thanet

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has allocated to Thanet from the Working Neighbourhood Fund; for what purposes it has been allocated; and how it will be spent.

John Healey: Thanet has been awarded 1,012,404 from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) for 2008-09. The authority will receive further funding in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	The purpose of the WNF is to provide resources to local authorities that have some of the highest concentrations of worklessness and lowest levels of skills and enterprise. As WNF is paid as an element of Area Based Grant Thanet district council has the freedom and flexibility to use the funding in innovative ways to meet the objectives of the fund.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Infant Mortality

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policies designed to reduce the rate of child mortality in Central and Western Asia in the last three years.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports health programmes in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan which include initiatives to reduce child mortality. These focus on essential care of newborns, nutrition interventions including breast feeding promotion, immunisation, early community and hospital management of common childhood illnesses, and improved water and sanitation. Under-five mortality has fallen in all these countries in the past three to five years and DFID's support aims to accelerate this rate of reduction.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development from what sources the $60 billion committed to fighting HIV and AIDS by the G8 at Heiligendamm in June 2007 will be provided; and what proportion of that sum has been committed by the Government.

Gillian Merron: At the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in 2007, the G8 committed to scale up their efforts to provide a projected $60 billion over the coming years for disease control and health systems. One of the UK Government's objectives at Toyako was to encourage other donors and developing countries to meet those commitments.
	The Toyako 2008 G8 communiqu builds on and takes forward the commitments made at previous G8 meetings and reiterated its commitment to the goal of universal access and to continue efforts to work towards the goal of providing at least a projected US$ 60 billion over five years (by mid 2012) to fight infectious diseases and strengthen health.
	In Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world the Government committed 6 billion to strengthen health systems and services over seven years to 2015, including for HIV-AIDS support. In addition to this recent commitment, the UK Government have made a long-term commitment of 1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: Trade

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department takes to advocate particular trade proposals to developing countries; and what factors are taken into account in deciding whether to advocate a particular proposal.

Gareth Thomas: Development has been at the heart of UK's trade policy for the past 10 years. The Government have promoted trade policies that bring real benefits to developing countries. This continues to be our position in various ongoing global and regional trade talks involving both developed and developing countries.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) also aims to provide countries with the tools and knowledge they need to form their own positions in trade negotiations. DFID funds research through the World Bank, UN and think tanks on critical trade and development issues. For example, DFID has supported IDEAS, a Geneva based NGO, to help West African cotton producing countries to better grasp the challenges and opportunities linked to emerging proposals on cotton in the WTO negotiations.
	DFID supports a number of initiatives which strengthen developing countries trade policies. For example, the Enhanced Integrated Framework will help developing countries to mainstream trade within their broader policies on growth and development.

EU Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the Lisbon Treaty not coming into effect on the delivery of the EU humanitarian aid programme;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the possible effect of the Lisbon Treaty being abandoned on the delivery of the EU humanitarian aid programme;
	(3)  what the reasons were for his statement in his Department's latest departmental report that the success and adoption of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty was necessary to provide a clear legal basis for humanitarian aid.

Douglas Alexander: The EU as a whole is the world's largest provider of humanitarian aid. The EU's mechanisms and structures for humanitarian response give it global capability and capacity to respond to a range of disasters.
	The Lisbon treaty (article 214) states that the adoption of the framework of the Union's humanitarian aid operations will be by qualified majority and co-decision. This is not new. The existing framework regulation on humanitarian assistance (regulation 1257/96 of 20 June 1996) was adopted using qualified majority voting, on the basis of development cooperation provisions introduced at Maastricht (currently article 179 of the EC treaty).
	The change made by the Lisbon treaty is to provide a specific legal base for such assistance and to make clear that humanitarian aid must conform to principles of impartiality, neutrality and non-discrimination. These principles make clear that the delivery of aid must be guided by need and not by political or ideological considerations. This provision, including the specification of the appropriate legal base, is a positive innovation of the treaty and the Government supports it. These changes will not come in unless and until the Lisbon treaty enters into force.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs set out the Government's position on pursuing the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty following the result of the referendum in the Republic of Ireland in a statement to the House on 16 June 2008. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also made a statement to the House on the outcome of the discussions at the European Council on 23 June 2008.

France: Foreign Relations

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to strengthen relations with France prior to its assuming the EU presidency, as referred to in his Department's most recent departmental report; and what effect those steps have had on the UK's influence over how EU aid is distributed.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development has been working with other Whitehall departments to strengthen our relationships with France on development. I and my ministerial colleagues have had several meetings with French counterparts, as have my senior officials. The UK-France summit provided evidence of the close working relationship between the UK and France on development, with the communiqu noting shared commitments in a number of areas.
	At an EU level, we worked closely with the French Government to agree at the June European Council an agenda for action on the millennium development goals, which demonstrates the EU's leadership in accelerating progress on poverty reduction. The UK will continue to liaise closely with France and other member states on the level of Community assistance to partner countries in discussions in the Council.

Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who appointed the members of the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact.

Douglas Alexander: Members of the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact were appointed by the Secretary of State for International Development.
	Selection complied with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice.

Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the salary and other remuneration is of the Chairman of the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact.

Douglas Alexander: Work undertaken by the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact (IACDI) is paid on an honorarium basis. The chairman receives 250 per day, on a three year contract (up to a maximum of 80 days). The Department for International Development (DFID) will also meet the cost of travel and expenses necessarily incurred in respect of the appointment.

Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost has been of running the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact since its inception.

Douglas Alexander: The cost to date has been approximately 40,000. This has covered: recruitment of International Advisory Committee on Development Impact (IACDI) members; committee members' fees and expenses; and the Evaluation Department Secretariat's direct costs.

Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what authority the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact has to expose shortcomings in his Department.

Douglas Alexander: The Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact has been established to strengthen and assure the independence of the evaluation function in the Department for International Development (DFID), and the use of evaluation results to enhance delivery and impact of UK development assistance.
	The full terms of reference of the Committee are available on DFID's external website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken towards delivering the millennium development goals call to action in 2008.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the Government's involvement in the MDG Call to Action campaign. The campaign aims to encourage action by a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, NGOs, faith groups and other parts of civil society to accelerate progress on the MDGs and help make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty.
	We have worked with other Government Departments to ensure that summits of the EU, and G8 discuss MDG issues. We are also actively supporting preparation by the UN of their High Level Event on 25 September, which will be attended by governments and other key stakeholders. We hope that this meeting will be a focal point for adding further momentum to efforts to achieve the MDGs.
	In May this year the UK Government co-hosted an event in London along with the United Development Programme (UNDP) on the Business Call to Action (BCTA). At the meeting more than a dozen global companies announced new initiatives which use their unique business skills to solve problems on the ground and to transform people's lives. Since then DFID has been working with the World Economic Forum, UNDP and the International Business Leaders Forum as part of the preparations for a UN-hosted Private Sector Meeting in September.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which members of his Department plan to attend the high-level meeting on the millennium development goals in New York in September 2008; and what the projected travel and accommodation costs are.

Douglas Alexander: We have yet to decide on the numbers, and therefore the costs, of the UK delegation. I intend to attend.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have agreed to support the Call to Action initiative as a result of UK intervention; and whether his Department continues to seek the support of more countries.

Gareth Thomas: To date 45 countries have signed up to the Call to Action initiative. In order to help efforts to get the MDGs back on track, the UK Government have actively encouraged countries to sign up to the Call to Action and attend the UN High Level Event in September. UK Government representatives have sought to raise the Call to Action with bilateral partners in a range of meetings over the past year, helping increase the numbers of signatory countries.
	The Department for International Development, as part of a concerted effort with other UK Government Departments and other stakeholders, continues to seek the support of more countries for the Call to Action.

Overseas Aid: Health

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what provision the International Health Partnership makes for  (a) co-ordination among aid donors and  (b) a development focus on health systems; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: At the global level, the International Health Partnership (IHP) provides a framework for the eight major international health agencies, the H8, to co-ordinate and accelerate their efforts to meet the health-related MDGs. In addition, at country level, IHP country teams bring aid donors together with governments to develop country compacts. These compacts commit development partners to co-ordinate their support around a government-led health plan that includes a national strategy for health systems strengthening.

Overseas Aid: Health

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria were used to select the eight countries where the International Health Partnership has been implemented; and what plans there are to extend it to further countries.

Douglas Alexander: The first eight countries to join the International Health Partnership (IHP) were selected on a number of criteria including:
	good leadership in the health sector;
	several donors active in the health sector; and
	a good prognosis for delivering.
	All eight countries indicated their interest in further developing and testing the IHP in its early stages.
	The IHP is not exclusive. Madagascar and Nigeria have joined the IHP since the launch. Any country interested in joining the IHP can approach the WHO and World Bank directly, once they have discussed IHP membership with their partners in-country.

Tamils

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Shahid Malik: The humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka is remains very serious. As a result of violence, long-term conflict and the 2006 tsunami, there are over 800,000 internally displaced persons. The continuous closure of the main A9 highway linking the Jaffna peninsula with the mainland has made land access impossible for the mainly Tamil speaking residents, severely compromised the local economy and led to the increase in the prices of essential items. Internally displaced people from the Jaffna district as well as parts of north-eastern Sri Lanka remain unable to return to their homes due to the demarcation of large areas as High Security Zones.
	The UK, EU and the wider international community have repeatedly pressed the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to guarantee free access for relief agencies to deliver humanitarian aid to all Sri Lankans affected by the fighting. In September 2007, the Department for International Development (DFID) contributed 1 million to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to help provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by the violence. DFID has already contributed a further 250,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 2008 Appeal. DFID continues to closely monitor the humanitarian situation, including by sending regular monitoring missions to Sri Lanka, the last being in November 2007.

Transparency International: Finance

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department provided to Transparency International in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007; and how much of such funding was allocated to projects in Venezuela.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development has provided the following funding to Transparency International:
	
		
			
			 2005-06 250,000 
			 2006-07 1,000,000 
			 2007-08 (1)1,125,000 
			 (1) Estimated 
		
	
	All of this was unrestricted funding provided to the Berlin-based Transparency International Secretariat. None was ear-marked for Venezuela.

JUSTICE

Credit Cards: Fraud

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted of fraud involving credit card skimming in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There is no specific offence relating to credit card skimming, however people may be prosecuted under various sections of the 1968 and 1978 Theft Acts. Data covering offences under the relevant sections of these acts for the number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	Frauds occurring after 15 January 2007 may be prosecuted under various sections of the Fraud Act 2006. Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the following table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  N umber of persons found guilty at all courts for certain offences relating to fraud, in England and Wales, 2002 - 06( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3) 
			   Found guilty 
			 2002 10,868 
			 2003 10,018 
			 2004 9,072 
			 2005 8,001 
			 2006 6,484 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence description: Theft Act 1968 Sec 15 Obtaining property by deception Theft Act 1968 Sec 15A as added by Theft (Amendment) Act 1996 S.1 Obtaining a money transfer by deception Theft Act 1968 Sec 16 (l)(2)(b) and (c) Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception (except railway frauds) Theft Act 1978 Sees 1 and 2 Railway Frauds Theft Act 1978 Sec 1 Obtaining services by deception (except railway frauds) Theft Act 1978 Sec 2 Evasion of liability by deception (except railway frauds)  Source: CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in his Department and each of its agencies are assigned to a people action team.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice does not have staff who are part of a 'people action team'.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Michael Wills: Details of my Department's centrally funded expenditure on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications is as follows: 12 months to June 2007: approximately 1,250 per month; 12 months to June 2008: approximately 16,591 per month. However, approximately 4,400 per month is recovered locally from prisoner monies.
	The latter figure includes expenditure for the National Offender Management Service, including Her Majesty's Prison Service, following the creation of the Ministry of Justice in May 2007.
	Expenditure on subscriptions held locally by courts, tribunals and other business areas for which my Department is responsible, could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, column 55W, on departmental security, what types of data breaches were notified by public sector organisations.

Michael Wills: The Information Commissioner encourages organisations to report serious data breaches to his Office, although there is no legal obligation on them to do so. The severity and impact of the breaches varies, in part because of the subjective criteria used by organisations when deciding whether to notify. Breaches referred to the ICO only involve information relating to individuals.
	The types of data breaches recorded by the Information Commissioner, based on voluntary notification by public sector organisations from November 2007 to July 2008 include the loss or theft of computer or laptop; website security problems; loss of paper records; loss of removable media or discs and inappropriate disclosure of information.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 886W, on economic and monetary union, for what reasons he is not planning to place a copy of his Department's euro changeover plan in the Library.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice is undergoing a huge transformation, and is still in the process of settling into the reorganised structure.
	It would be inappropriate to place a copy of the Plan in its current format in the Library, as it requires updating to reflect the new Department.
	The Euro Team will consider the timing and appropriateness of updating the plan, and a decision to place an updated copy in the Library will be made in due course.

Electoral Register

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people eligible to vote who are not on the electoral register in  (a) England,  (b) each English region and  (c) each London local authority area.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not made any estimate of the number and proportion of people eligible to vote who are not on the electoral register in England, each English region and each London local authority area.
	The Electoral Commission estimated that 3.5 million eligible electors were not registered to vote in their report, Understanding Electoral Registration, which was published in September 2005. However the number of electors registered in England continues to grow and between 2 December 2006 and 1 December 2007 the number of parliamentary electors grew from 37,588,775 to 37,817,466 and the number of local government electors grew from 38,223,259 to 38,599,775.
	The Government have taken a number of steps to increase voter registration rates. Section 9 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 placed a new duty on electoral registration officers to take all necessary steps to maintain the electoral register, including sending the annual canvass form more than once, making house to house enquiries and inspecting records that they are permitted to inspect. It is for the ERO to decide on the best steps to use in conjunction with their local knowledge to ensure that requirements for making contact with persons and maintaining the register are complied with. To support such activities we have made 2.5 million available each financial year under our Participation Fund, which allows EROs to apply for additional funding to assist them in promoting electoral awareness within their areas.
	The Electoral Administration Act also includes a provision for the Electoral Commission to introduce new performance standards for electoral registration officers. The Electoral Commission are currently developing these standards and the final set of standards will be published in July 2008. A copy of these standards which will be laid before the House and the information obtained from local authorities as a consequence will give us a better understanding of the actions taken to increase registration.

Electoral Register

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of those eligible to vote who are registered as electors in  (a) Luton South and  (b) the UK; and what steps he is taking to increase levels of voter registration.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not made any estimate of the proportion of those eligible to vote, who are registered as electors in Luton, South and the UK. However, as of the 1 December 2007 the parliamentary registration figure for Luton, South is 70,221 and the combined figure for local government electors in the Luton borough is 138,409. I am aware that the decrease in electoral registration rates in Luton, South may be due to a change in the local population, which is made up of student accommodation and large properties converted into dwellings of multiple occupancy.
	The Office for National Statistics has recently published electoral registration rates for the UK following the 2007 annual canvass. These confirm that the levels of voter registration in parliamentary elections increased by 307,669 to 45,082,854 and the levels of voter registration in local government elections increased by 463,340 to 45,920,503.
	The Government have taken a number of steps to increase voter registration rates. Section 9 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 placed a new duty on electoral registration officers to take all necessary steps to maintain the electoral register, including sending the annual canvass form more than once, making house to house enquiries and inspecting records that they are permitted to inspect. It is for the ERO to decide on the best steps to use in conjunction with their local knowledge to ensure that requirements for making contact with persons and maintaining the register are complied with.
	To support such activities we have made 2.5 million available each financial year under our Participation Fund, which allows EROs to apply for additional funding to assist them in promoting electoral awareness within their areas.
	The Act also includes a provision for the Electoral Commission to introduce new performance standards for EROs. The Electoral Commission is currently developing these standards and the final set of standards will be published during July 2008. A copy of these standards will be laid before the House and the information obtained from local authorities as a consequence will give us a better understanding of the actions taken to increase registration.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years;
	(2)  from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Bridget Prentice: Catering services to meet the Ministry of Justice's requirements are contracted out and provided by commercial suppliers. It is not possible to identify the five countries from which the greatest amount of food was procured during the period 1 July to 30 June 2007 as this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, information requested for Her Majesty's Prison Service is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2002-03 39.35 
			 2003-04 42.14 
			 2004-05 43.28 
			 2005-06 47.90 
			 2006-07 47.32 
		
	
	The only figure that is available for food of British origin procured by Her Majesty's Prison Service is 17,508,400 in 2006-07.
	37 per cent. of food was domestically produced (as previously published in the DEFRA report:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/govt-food-usage.pdf.

George Kelly

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what  (a) discussions and  (b) correspondence officials in his Department have had (i) internally and (ii) with the Treasury Solicitor's Department on the proposal to resolve the outstanding issues in the George Kelly case by mediation;
	(2)  what invoices his Department has received for work undertaken by the Treasury Solicitor on his Department's behalf in connection with matters related to the George Kelly case; and what payments have been made in respect of such invoices.

Bridget Prentice: The proposal to resolve the issues in the late George Kelly case by mediation is still under consideration and there have been a number of discussions both internally, and externally with Treasury Solicitor. In the case of the level of compensation due in respect of Mr. Kelly's wrongful conviction and subsequent hanging in 1950, these are matters entirely for the independent assessor now that the case has been approved for compensation under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
	Invoices totalling 39,102.25 (including VAT) have been raised in relation to Treasury Solicitor's time spent on litigation involving Mr. George Kelly plus 10,434.07 (including VAT) for disbursements.

Government Departments: Freedom of Information

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Information Commissioner has provided to Departments on whether the cost of time taken to redact information should be taken into account in deciding whether a response to a freedom of information request exceeds the appropriate fees limit.

Jack Straw: My Department has published comprehensive guidance on its website to help public authorities calculate the fees limit under the Freedom of Information Act. We believe that redacting both exempt information and information that is not within the scope of a request are countable activities towards the section 12 cost limit.
	The Information Commissioner has said he will publish guidance on this subject in the near future.

Hunting Act: Prosecutions

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions have  (a) been brought and  (b) resulted in convictions under the Hunting Act 2004; and whether any convictions have been successfully appealed against.

Maria Eagle: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	The Hunting Act 2004 came into force on 18 February 2005.
	The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  N umber of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales for the years 2004 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2004 0 0 
			 2005 3 3 
			 2006 11 5 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statute and corresponding offence description: Hunting Act 2004 SS.1 and 6 Hunting a wild mammal with a dog Hunting Act 2004 SS.3(1) and 6 Knowingly permitting land to be entered or used in the course of hunting a wild mammal with dogs Hunting Act 2004 SS.3(2) and 6 Knowingly permitting a dog to be used in the course of hunting a wild mammal Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (a) and 6 Participating in a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (b) and 6 Attending a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (c) and 6 Knowingly facilitating a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 SS.5(1) (d) and 6 Permitting land to be used for the purpose of a hare coursing event Hunting Act 2004 S.5(2) Permitting etc a dog to participate in a hare coursing event  Source: CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Information Commissioner

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 683-84W, on the Information Commissioner, what steps he is taking to assist the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to speed up the processing of its caseload; and what consideration he has given to providing additional resources to the ICO.

Michael Wills: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is an independent body created by statute. Its responsibilities include handling complaints made under the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
	The ICO's freedom of information work is funded by grant in aid paid through my department. Separately, the ICO's data protection work is funded by the notification fees it receives when data controllers register with the ICO and which the Office is allowed to retain with the Treasury's agreement. Within this funding framework, as an independent office, the ICO has autonomy to decide how to allocate resources to discharge its statutory responsibilities.
	The Government are committed fully to both freedom of information and data protection. My Department and the ICO regularly review the resources available to his office and as part of that dialogue my Department provides constructive challenge to ensure that the ICO delivers maximum efficiency and secures the best value from the public money allocated for its statutory responsibilities.
	In each of the last four financial years, my Department has given the ICO additional funding for his freedom of information work. This year the additional funding represented a 10 per cent. increase on his baseline.
	In addition, the Ministry of Justice has promoted a secondment scheme to assist the ICO in tackling the outstanding backlog of freedom of information cases. Under the scheme secondees from central Government Departments, paid for by their Departments, will work at the ICO to assist with clearing the backlog. This was in response to the Commissioner's request for staffing as well as funding.
	My Department is also in discussion with the ICO about funding for its data protection responsibilities. Government have agreed to consider new powers for the ICO for data protection inspections and that the fee arrangements should be reviewed to ensure that new powers are accompanied by funding to support the exercise of these powers.

Michael Shields

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what decision he has reached on the determination of his jurisdiction in the case of Michael Shields; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I have held a number of meetings with my hon. Friend and other supporters of Michael Shields, most recently on 3 July 2008. I expect to write to Mr. Shields' legal team shortly on the issue my hon. Friend has raised and I will, of course, copy her in my letter.

National Identity: Public Participation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans there are to use citizens' juries or citizens' panels to discuss the Government's policy on Britishness.

Michael Wills: We are planning a wide-ranging engagement process for the British Statement of Values to enable as many people as possible to participate in the debate. This will involve a series of deliberative style events, which could include citizens' juries or citizens' panels. We expect to make an announcement about the way ahead before the summer recess.
	The Government have recently published a discussion document A national framework for greater citizen engagement that sets out proposals for greater use of deliberative engagement techniques in national policy making-including citizens' juries.

Offensive Weapons

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people convicted of encouraging violent behaviour involving the use of a knife under the Knives Act 1997 have been  (a) female and  (b) male.

Jack Straw: Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform show that there were no convictions for 2006 for this offence.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figure provided relates to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to amend the sentencing guidelines for magistrates courts for offences of possession of an offensive weapon due to commence on 4th August 2008.

Jack Straw: The revised Magistrates Courts Sentencing Guidelines are the responsibility of the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council, operating within the sentencing framework laid down by Parliament. The Court of Appeal, which has a crucial role in interpreting the lawhas recently made clearSir Igor Judge's judgment in the case of R  v. Povey and othersthat possession of a knife is a serious offence and it should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. The guidelines give ample scope for the courts to do this.
	The Government's concerns about knife crime are reflected in the fact that last year we doubled the maximum sentence for possession of a knife to four years. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 5 June an end to cautions for knife possessionreplacing it with a presumption to prosecute. Anyone over the age of 16 caught in possession of a knife can expect to be prosecuted on the first offence rather than cautioned.

Recovery of Costs

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance he issues to the judiciary on the amount of costs that can be recovered by a litigant from an opponent ordered to pay costs in litigation.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor does not issue guidance to the judiciary on the amount of costs that can be recovered by a litigant from an opponent ordered to pay costs in litigation.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Carbon Sequestration

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of developments in carbon capture and storage technology.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department keeps developments in carbon capture and storage (CCS) under close review, taking account of research and development in the UK and globally (including through links with the International Energy Agency). In addition, the Government support research and development, and demonstration, of CCS technologies through my Department, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Technology Strategy Board. The Energy Technologies Institute has also identified CCS as a priority area for research.

Carbon Sequestration

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which would be created by development and implementation of carbon capture and storage technology in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects on coalfield areas of such developments.

Malcolm Wicks: The development of the carbon capture and storage industry is still in its very early stages and therefore it is difficult to estimate the number of jobs that would be created. However, if carbon capture and storage technologies achieve their potential, there will be a global market worth billions of pounds where UK-based firms will be well placed given the UK's leading position on CCS.
	As the EU emissions trading scheme cap on CO2 emissions tightens, power generators will increasingly need to find ways of producing electricity with lower emissions. The successful development of CCS technologies could enable coal-fired power stations to play a greater part in our future energy mix than might otherwise have been the case. UK coalfields could benefit from this ongoing demand for coal; the majority of their output today supplies power stations.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the value of the property held by  (a) his Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The current value of property held by the Department is 1.33 million and by associated public bodies is 1,564.4 million.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Gareth Thomas: The Department does not hold this information centrally and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 Substantive answer from Gareth Thomas to Mark Hoban:
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 14 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2007/3224) asking what the (a) scheduled date and (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.
	The Insolvency Service has cancelled one conference proposed in the last 10 years, on 17 January 2007 entitled Presentation of Research Findings by Professors Katz and Mumford.
	As this conference was being held in-house, there were no costs involved.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 14 July 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Companies House has not cancelled any proposed conferences in the last ten years.

Departmental Domestic Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions he has visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Malcolm Wicks: In the last 12 months, Ministers in this Department have visited Scotland eight times; Wales once, and no visits have been made to Northern Ireland. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on ministerial policy advisers, which former special advisers have  (a) received approval from and  (b) been refused permission by his Department or its predecessor to take up an outside appointment on leaving their post since May 2005.

Gareth Thomas: Personal information about the applications submitted by special advisers, and other Crown servants, is made public only in accordance with the principles and practices followed in the operation of the business appointment rules. This information, which includes details of the appointments of the most senior staff and statistical data about cases at the more junior levels, is published on the website of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (www.acoba.gov.uk) and in its reports.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Gareth Thomas: BERR has committed in its 2008-09 Sustainable Development Action Plan, to be published shortly, to produce a carbon reduction strategy.
	The action plan will include initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of business travel, and will be published on the Department's website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service(1) and Companies House and they will respond to you directly.
	(1) Copies of the Insolvency Service's Environmental Policy and Transport Policy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 14 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Services in respect of your question (2007/2865) asking when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.
	The Insolvency Service introduced a green transport plan within its Environmental Policy and Action Plan, in 2001.This was supplemented by a Transport Policy in 2004, and is currently being reviewed as part of a wider review of our environmental strategy.
	Copies of the above documents are attached.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 14 July 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Companies House does not have a formal green transport plan. We do, however, have a car share scheme open to all staff, and we have a diesel mini bus that is used between our two South Wales sites minimising the amount of car usage. Last year we also initiated a salary sacrifice scheme which allowed staff to purchase bicycles and pay for them monthly through their salaries.
	Staff are also encouraged to use video-conferencing and telephone-conferencing facilities rather than travel to meetings.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: For all successful applicants for jobs in BERR that require unescorted access to BERR London offices, there is a check of both spent and unspent criminal records. Successful applicants for posts in BERR that do not require unescorted access to London buildings are required to provide a self-declaration of unspent criminal records. On a random basis, 20 per cent. of these self-declarations are checked.
	Information on the number of successful applicants, number of criminal checks and how many successful applicants had a criminal record in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Energy Supply: Prices

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of energy price differentials for  (a) domestic and  (b) industrial consumers in different regions of the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
	 (a) Regional price differentials in domestic electricity and gas prices are published quarterly in tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3 respectively of Quarterly Energy Prices, available online at
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html.
	A copy of this is also available from the House of Commons Library.
	 (b) Regional energy price differentials for industrial consumers are not collected. Industrial prices tend to be driven by tariff negotiations between energy suppliers and individual companies rather than by regional differences.
	UK prices for industrial consumers are published in table 3.1.1 of Quarterly Energy Prices.

Energy: Disconnections

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2008,  Official Report, column 949W, on energy disconnections, if he will provide a breakdown of the disconnections data given by constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) does not collect data about gas and electricity disconnections by constituency. The disconnection data are collected into a separate region for England, Scotland and Wales, or, by individual energy supplier. Data by supplier were included in the answer of 2 July. In the eight quarters to quarter 3 2007, the last period for which data have been published, the number of disconnections by region were:
	
		
			  Electricity 
			   Q4 2005  Q1 2006  Q2 2006  Q3 2006  Q4 2006  Q1 2007  Q2 2007  Q3 2007 
			 England 141 193 199 293 358 428 435 609 
			 Scotland 3 3 21 51 74 79 115 47 
			 Wales 24 17 6 18 25 37 32 16 
			 GB 168 213 226 362 457 544 582 672 
		
	
	
		
			  Gas 
			   Q4 2005  Q1 2006  Q2 2006  Q3 2006  Q4 2006  Q1 2007  Q2 2007  Q3 2007 
			 England 632 659 768 976 952 1210 1311 1318 
			 Scotland 27 20 58 97 151 122 171 101 
			 Wales 39 44 39 39 56 58 59 43 
			 GB 698 723 865 1,112 1,159 1,390 1,541 1,462

Energy: Housing

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding he has allocated for provision of information to domestic consumers on purchasing their energy supply in 2008-09.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department does not provide funding for the provision of information to domestic customers on purchasing energy supply. Domestic customers can obtain details of price and level of service offered by energy suppliers from Energywatch, the statutory gas and electricity consumer body, from its website at:
	www.energywatch.org.uk

EU Energy Council

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what matters were  (a) discussed and  (b) decided at the EU Energy Council meeting on 4 and 5 July; and if he will publish on his Departmental website copies of the documents submitted to the meeting.

Malcolm Wicks: I represented the UK at the informal EU Energy Council on 4-5 July organised by the French presidency. The main discussion was on the renewable energy directive, with the debate focused on the sustainability of biofuels and flexibilities required for the EU to achieve the 20 per cent. renewable energy target in a cost-effective way. There was also an exchange of national best practice on energy efficiency and a presentation on energy security in advance of the 2nd Strategic Energy Review, expected to be published later this year. This was an informal meeting, so no formal decisions were made nor conclusions reached and the Government submitted no documents to the meeting. A post-council written ministerial statement was published in  Hansard on 10 July 2008,  Official Report, column 79WS.

Fuel Poverty

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of  (a) heating oil and  (b) other fuel users living in fuel poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: The latest available data are for 2005:
	
		
			   2005 
			   Millions of households fuel poor  Percentage of group fuel poor 
			 Heating oil 0.13 15.2 
			 Other fuel 1.40 6.9 
			 All households 1.53 7.2 
		
	
	Further details of fuel poverty my main heating fuel are contained in the Fuel Poverty Detailed Tables published as an annex to the Fuel Poverty Strategy Report online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/fuel-poverty/strategy/index.html

Fuel Poverty

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what percentage of  (a) heating oil and  (b) other fuel users lived in fuel poverty in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: Splits of fuel poverty in England by use of heating oil and other fuels are only available for the years listed as follows. The data are derived from the English House Conditions Survey in each year.
	
		
			   Heating oil  Other fuel  All households 
			  2001
			 Millions of households fuel poor 0.12 1.60 1.72 
			 Percentage of group fuel poor 19.1 8.1 8.4 
			 
			  2003
			 Millions of households fuel poor 0.04 1.18 1.22 
			 Percentage of group fuel poor 5.7 5.9 5.9 
			 
			  2004
			 Millions of households fuel poor 0.06 1.18 1.24 
			 Percentage of group fuel poor 7.0 5.9 5.9 
			 
			  2005
			 Millions of households fuel poor 0.13 1.4 1.53 
			 Percentage of group fuel poor 15.2 6.9 7.2 
		
	
	Variation in heating oil fuel poverty levels can be attributable to real changes but will also be effected by the small sample size in the EHCS and the volatility of heating oil prices.

Fuel Poverty

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what targets his Department has set on assisting heating oil users in fuel poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has joint responsibility with DEFRA to eradicate as far as reasonably practicable fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010 in England and in all households by 2016, whatever form of heating they use.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grant funding is available to businesses in Leeds under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Low Carbon Building programme, with a budget of 86 million, has allocated 30 million to 6,300 projects, including 6.5 million to 154 projects in the private sector. However, funding streams for business are now closed to new applicants. As a result of projects supported under previous funding rounds, we are working closely with the Carbon Trust on a number of private sector projects to raise awareness of the potential for combining microgeneration with energy efficiency to develop low carbon buildings.
	By opting to generate their own renewable and low carbon energy businesses can help tackle climate change by moving from being passive users of energy to active production. This can increase self-sufficiency and security of supply in the face of great uncertainty over energy prices. We are looking again at what incentives we can offer to businesses who wish to generate their own renewable energy in the Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation document published in June details of which can be found at:
	http://renewableconsultation.berr.gov.uk/
	Wider Government activities to support businesses with an interest in low carbon technologies, include for example, the renewables obligation and the Carbon Trust provides site surveys to organisations looking to reduce their energy demand. Further details are available at:
	www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/sme_toolkit.htm

Microgeneration

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department has allocated to fund the microgeneration element of  (a) the green homes project and  (b) the Act on CO2 advice line for 2008-09.

Malcolm Wicks: The Energy White Paper and recent Renewable Energy Strategy consultation stress the importance of providing advice on distributed energy including microgeneration. I look forward to the responses to the consultation on this issue.
	We work closely with Energy Saving Trust, who run the green homes project and Act on CO2 advice line, and manage the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase One on our behalf. We are supportive of the green homes project and Act on CO2 advice lines but have not allocated funding specifically for it.

Mines Rescue Service: Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consideration he has given in the last year to the proposal that the Government serve as a guarantor of the financial bonds the European Commission requires from the Mines Rescue Service Limited for its participation in the research programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 June 2008
	 Over the past year the Coal Forum, which we established in 2006, has considered various aspects of the statutory mines rescue scheme and the company which provides that service (Mines Rescue Service Ltd.), including issues of funding. I am conscious of the position as regards bonds and will continue to explore options which might assist in managing the cash flow implications of the current requirement.

Nuclear Power

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on its submission to the consultation on the future of nuclear power, with particular reference to  (a) radioactive waste disposal and  (b) security issues.

Malcolm Wicks: Ministers have regular contacts with Welsh Assembly colleagues on a range of issues and officials have discussed with Welsh Assembly colleagues actions arising from the Government's decision to allow companies to build new nuclear power stations.

Nuclear Power: Manpower

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the availability of  (a) electrical engineers and  (b) systems engineers for the future nuclear power and decommissioning programmes.

Malcolm Wicks: Our White Paper on Nuclear Power sets out our view in sections 2.190 to 2.216. This is that the energy sector, nuclear and otherwise, faces challenges in meeting its need for skilled workers, but that the situation is manageable and that building new nuclear power stations does not present a significantly greater challenge than the alternatives. Indeed, a nuclear renaissance presents opportunities for companies to grow and for individuals to have rewarding careers.
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said at our Nuclear Investors' Conference on 12 June, we want the new Office of Nuclear Development we are establishing to work with skills bodies, employers, universities and colleges to help identify skills shortages and gaps so we can deliver learning, research and training at every level of our education system. As part of this, the Sector Skills Network is completing a report on energy sector skills, which we expect to publish this summer. This will outline the demand, what is being done and make recommendations where Government can help develop the future skills base. Government will respond to this report.

Oil: Production

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will hold discussions with Ministerial colleagues on the production of contingency plans for each Department to cover  (a) the eventuality of global oil production peaking and  (b) continued high oil prices.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government constantly monitor risks to the UK economy, including from energy-related developments, as detailed in the Energy White Paper (May 2007) and the Long-term Opportunities and Challenges for the UK (November 2006). In addition, the UK's policies, as outlined in the Energy White Paper, in promoting open and competitive markets, increasing energy efficiency, investing in low carbon technologies and the use of alternative energy sources such as renewables will reduce the risks to the UK of any potential future declines in global oil and gas production. Given these initiatives and policies, the government does not feel the need to hold contingency plans specifically for peak oil
	The Government test the robustness of their policies against a number of oil price scenarios. These oil price assumptions are published for the period till 2030 and are disseminated throughout Whitehall and where relevant are used by Government Departments in their analytical work. In order to capture some of the uncertainty around future oil prices there are four illustrative scenarios used: low, central, high and high-high. Further details are available at the following links:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/environment/projections/recent/page26391.html
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46071.pdf

Renewable Energy: Incentives

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the operation of feed-in tariff policies in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In the context of the Renewable Energy Strategy we have considered a variety of approaches taken by other EU countries to encourage renewable generation, including different feed-in tariff mechanisms. We believe we should retain the renewables obligation as the prime means of support for renewable centralised electricity but are consulting on a number of possible measures to overcome the constraints to small-scale energy generation through the Renewable Energy Strategy consultation, including feed-in tariffs.
	The consultation can be accessed at:
	http://renewablesconsultation.berr.gov.uk/

Renewable Energy: National Grid

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average connection charges to the National Grid are for  (a) renewable generation in Scotland and  (b) renewable generation in the UK excluding Scotland.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 20 June 2008
	 It is not possible to compare the connection charges to national grid in Scotland with those in England and Wales, on a like-for-like basis.
	In England and Wales, most generators connect directly to national grid. As the generator owns most of the actual connection assets, there are no annual connection charges.
	In Scotland, the transmission network owners (SHETL and SPTL) own most of the connection assets. SHETL and SPTL define the connection charges payable by generators for such connection assets and pass those charges through to national grid as GB system operator.
	Selecting 10 recently signed agreements for renewable generators in Scotland, national grid advise that the average annual connection charge payable as advanced capital contributions in instalments up to completion of the works is 2.3 million.

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent communications or discussions  (a) he,  (b) other departmental Ministers and  (c) officials, have had with (i) the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and (ii) consortium applicants for the Sellafield decommissioning contract on the indemnification of the contract holder against claims arising from property damage, the cost to human health, or the cost of measures of reinstatement of any significantly impaired environment in the event of an on-site accident or other incident resulting in the dispersal of radioactive materials off-site.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has been informed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) that it expects to have to grant an indemnity against uninsurable claims arising from a nuclear incident that fall outside the protections offered by the Nuclear Installations Act and the Paris/Brussels Convention to whichever of the four bidders for the Sellafield contract is successful. The NDA is conducting the Sellafield parent body organisation competition under the EU Competitive Dialogue procedure, evaluating the four bids received against agreed evaluation criteria. Within that process bidders were invited to make proposals for a nuclear indemnity under competitive tension against an established framework. It would not be viable for any of the bidders to proceed without an indemnity because any fee earning benefits of the contract would be overwhelmed by the potential liabilities. The NDA has assessed that the benefits of engaging a new contractor far outweigh the remote risk that an indemnity might be called upon. The final form of the indemnity will reflect the specific terms proposed by the preferred bidder.

Social Fuel Tariff

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many consumers there are on a social fuel tariff from each of the six top energy suppliers, broken down by constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2008
	Data on social fuel tariffs broken down by constituency do not exist. Ofgem published an aggregated review of suppliers' voluntary initiatives in August 2007 and updated the figures in October 2007.

Wind Power: Planning

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans his Department has to increase the number of wind farms in the United Kingdom in the next 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: On 26 June 2008 the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform launched a public consultation on a UK Renewable Energy Strategy. The consultation seeks views on how to drive up the use of renewable energy in the UKincluding on and offshore windas part of our overall strategy for tackling climate change, and to meet our share of the EU target to source 20 per cent. of the EU's energy from renewable sources by 2020. The strategy will be published in spring 2009.
	The consultation, which runs until 26 September 2008, can be accessed at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page46797.html.
	A copy of the consultation document is also available in the Libraries of both Houses.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education: EC Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the UK's progress towards achieving the EU benchmark on adult participation in lifelong learning.

David Lammy: The UK has surpassed the EU benchmark on adult participation in lifelong learning. The EU benchmark is for 12.5 per cent. of the working age population of the EU to be participating in education and training by 2010. In the UK, 26.8 per cent. of the working age population were participating in education and training in 2006 when the most recent data were collected for this benchmark, which is an increase from 20.5 per cent. in 2000.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department since its creation and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under machinery of government changes in June 2007. Travel by Ministers and civil servants are undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively. The Department does not hold records at this level of detail, to answer the question would be at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on  (a) new capital investment and  (b) refurbishment of property in each of the last 10 years, broken down by project.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of machinery of government changes in June 2007. To provide a response to this question would be at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many staff in his Department and its agencies have been  (a) dismissed and  (b) disciplined for their conduct since the Department was established.

David Lammy: The Department was created in the machinery of government changes announced on 28 June 2007 with staff from the ex-Department for Education and Skills (DFES), and the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) being incorporated into the new Department. No officials have been dismissed or disciplined for their conduct since the establishment of the Department.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies have taken early retirement since the Department was established.

David Lammy: The Department was formed as a result of machinery of government changes in June 2007. The Department's people information is maintained on the HR management systems of the two Departments from which staff were transferred, namely BERR and DCSF. To obtain the information would be deemed a disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many of his Department's staff have access to the Department's IT infrastructure at home.

David Lammy: All DIUS staff are issued with laptops which they can take home and work from; therefore all staff have access to the IT infrastructure.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the change in the number of employees of his Department and its agencies has been since the Department was established.

David Lammy: The Department was established as part of the machinery of government changes of 28 June 2007. At the point of establishment, there were 779 employees in the Department; at 31 May 2008 there were 802 employees. The overall increase of 23 staff includes 32 additional Government Skills staff who transferred into the Department from the Cabinet Office on 1 April 2008.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of staff of his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the period since the Department was established.

David Lammy: My Department was created on 28 June 2007. In accordance to the Cabinet Office guidance, broadly 75 per cent. of senior civil servants have not received the maximum annual bonus available in their grade. The pay settlement for grade 6s and below has yet to be finalised.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted since its establishment.

David Lammy: The Department has not submitted any planning or licensing applications since its establishment in June 2007.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under machinery of government changes in June 2007. To provide an accurate response would be at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies since its creation.

David Lammy: Nine departmental access passes have been reported lost or stolen since its creation. There is nothing on the pass which indicates which buildings or organisations it gives access to.
	Answers in respect of our agencies could be given only at disproportionate cost.
	Security and pass issuance services in respect of London staff are provided on behalf of this Department by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and answers given by that Department may include DIUS staff as well.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many working days have been lost due to sickness among employees for which his Department and its predecessor were responsible for each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Cabinet Office has recently introduced a revised format for reporting sickness absence statistics across the Civil Service. The new format was introduced at the end of March 2008 and the reports now cover the period up to 31 March 2008. The figure for annual average working days lost due to sickness in the Department up to that date is 7.9 per staff member. The annual number of days lost is 10,464.18.
	The Department was formed as part of the Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. Sickness absence data for the Department's predecessors, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Trade and Industry, for 2006-07, 2005 and 2004, including the average number of days taken as sick leave are published on the Civil Service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	along with data for other departments and agencies.
	Earlier sickness data are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under machinery of government changes in June 2007. The Department does not hold records at this level of detail, to answer the question would be at disproportionate cost.

Education: Hyndburn

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population of Hyndburn constituency which has been educated to NVQ level 4 or above.

Bill Rammell: DIUS uses the Annual Population Survey (APS) to provide local estimates of educational attainment. DIUS estimates that in 2006, 22.5 per cent. of women aged 19 to 59 and men aged 19 to 64 in Hyndburn were qualified to NVQ level 4 or above. The comparable figures for the North West and England were 26.6 per cent. and 28.9 per cent. respectively.
	The economic and social benefits of increasing high level skills are felt at a local as well as national level, unlocking the potential of towns and people by attracting, nurturing and retaining talent in a local area. In Higher Education at Work-High Skills: High Value we have consulted on our strategy to increase the numbers of people with qualifications at level 4 and above.

EU Education and Training 2010 Work Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of the EU Education and Training 2010 Work Programme.

David Lammy: The EU Education and Training 2010 Work Programme, developed to give direction to the role of education and training within the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, has added value across the European Union to a policy area which is the responsibility of individual member states.
	Performance of the work programme is assessed through a series of EU benchmarks and indicators which identify priority areas for improvement in the field of education and training. A biennial joint report of the European Council and Commission highlights progress towards these benchmarks across the EU and gives further strategic direction to the work programme.
	Within these priority areas, the open method of coordination, on which the activities of the work programme are based, provides a platform for exchange of best practice and peer learning across member states, through cluster group work and ministerial exchanges of views at EU Education Council.

European Pact for Youth

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his Department's role is in activities being carried out in England under the European Pact for Youth.

David Lammy: The European Youth Pact calls on member states to equip young people with the necessary knowledge, opportunities, skills and competencies to ensure that they can contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon goals of boosting jobs and growth. The Department's role is to share our experience with other EU member states and the Commission as part of encouraging good practice. The pact is implemented in England through our domestic policies, for example the Department's work on skills and joint work with DCSF on apprenticeships.

European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the UK's role is in the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning.

Bill Rammell: The UK supports the European Qualifications Framework as we believe it has the potential to improve the recognition of skills throughout Europe, allowing national qualifications to be translated more effectively between different countries. This will play an important role in helping our labour markets work better.

European Space Agency: Small Businesses

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely effects of European Space Agency projects on levels of employment in small and medium-sized businesses in  (a) England,  (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and  (c) Leeds Metropolitan District.

Ian Pearson: There are no estimates available relating solely to small and medium-sized business employment on European Space Agency projects. However, in the Size and Health of the UK Space Industry survey published by BNSC in 2006, analysis indicated that 16,200 people were employed in the space sector in the UK in 2004-05. Of these, 15,830 were employed in England with 620 in Yorkshire and Humberside. There are no data available relating specifically to the Leeds metropolitan district.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of 17 and 18 year olds who took A-levels in 2007  (a) applied to and  (b) have enrolled in a higher education institution.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The proportion of A-level students who applied to university is not available.
	 (b) Detailed information on higher education enrolments is not yet available for 2007/08. The proportion of maintained school pupils who took A-levels in 2003/04, who entered a UK higher education institution in 2004/05 or 2005/06, was 70.7 per cent.
	If we consider only those pupils who gained 2 or more GCE A-levels in 2003/04, 79.5 per cent. entered a UK higher education institution in 2004/05 or 2005/06.
	These figures are obtained using linked National Pupil Database and Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record datasets. Additional students may have applied for higher education courses in 2006/07 or 2007/08 but linked data are not yet available which allow us to track the above students into higher education later than 2005/06.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what research has been undertaken by his Department on the reasons why 18-year-olds with an academic or vocational Level 3 qualification decide not to enter higher education by the age of 19 years.

Bill Rammell: The Youth Cohort Study asked those with five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, who were studying level 3 academic or vocational qualifications in 2002/03 and were not intending to apply to university in the near future, to give reasons as to why they were not applying. The following table summarises the reasons that were given by the 299 respondents.
	The respondent to this survey would be considering entering HE in 2003/04 (at age 18) or in 2004/05 (at age 19) and as such would have entered under an old student support system. So reasons regarding finance are unlikely to be relevant to young people now or in more recent history.
	
		
			   Reason( 1)  Percentage of respondents citing reason 
			 1. It is expensive/you can get into debt 21 
			 2. I wanted to become financially independent 9 
			 3. I wanted to start earning money 20 
			 4. There is no guarantee of a good job at the end 2 
			 5. The application process is difficult/off-putting 1 
			 6. I wasn't sure what would be like/I didn't have enough information 1 
			 7. I was worried about fitting in/settling in  
			 8. Didn't think I would get in/didn't get high enough grades 10 
			 9. The work load can be hard/doubts about ability to finish course 7 
			 10. Teachers/careers staff advised me to get a job  
			 11. Family encouraged me to start working  
			 12. All/most of my friends were looking for jobs  
			 13. Never thought of applying/no particular reason 6 
			 14. Other 44 
			 15. Not yet decided 6 
			 (1) Respondents could give more than one reason.  Note: YCS cohort 11, based on 299 respondents.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of 18 year olds from the 20  (a) most and  (b) least deprived local authority areas entered higher education in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007.

Bill Rammell: The Higher Education Funding Council for England analyse the geography of young participation in higher education. The exact specification requested is not currently available but they have provided some provisional figures (from a report on trends in young participation that is currently in preparation) that relate to the young (18 and 19 year old) HE participation rates of deprived areas.
	The 20 per cent. of English small areas recorded as most deprived by the 2004 version of the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) had a young HE participation rate of 13.8 per cent. for 1998-99 and 18.3 per cent. for 2006-07 (projected). The corresponding figures for the least deprived 20 per cent. are 48.7 per cent. (1998-99) and 50.5 per cent. (2006-07, projected). Figures are not available for the 1997/98 and 2007/08 academic years.

Higher Education: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population of Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency which has been educated to NVQ level 4 or above.

Bill Rammell: DIUS uses the Annual Population Survey (APS) to provide local estimates of educational attainment. DIUS estimates that in 2006, 26.1 per cent. of women aged 19-59 and men aged 19-64 in Bexleyheath and Crayford were qualified to NVQ level 4 or above. The comparable figures for Greater London and England were 36.5 per cent. and 28.9 per cent. respectively. DIUS local estimates of attainment down to local authority level are available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STA/t000747/index.shtml.
	However, it should be noted that all these APS estimates are currently undergoing revision following the reweighting of all underlying datasets to reflect more up to date population estimates from ONS. The DIUS published series will be revised and updated to include 2007 estimates in August.

Higher Education: Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what the average age of a lecturer was  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average length of time was that a lecturer had spent in the profession  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Bill Rammell: According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Staff Record, the average age of Academic Lecturers and Senior Lecturers and Researchers who are teaching only or teaching and research was 44 in the 1997/98 academic year and 45 in the 2006/07 academic year. The age of academic staff is as at 31 August and the average age is calculated on known ages only. Figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.
	Information showing the average length of time that a lecturer had spent in the profession is not available. Lecturers are likely to change institutions throughout their career and the HESA Staff Record is unable to follow the path of a lecturer throughout their career.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under machinery of government changes in June 2007. The Department does not hold records at this level of detail, to answer the question would be at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Students

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and  (b) others on the contribution that those from overseas studying at universities in England and Wales make to the national economy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the income which accrued to each university from the teaching and supervision of overseas students in each of the last three years, broken down by country of origin.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Chancellor and others on the benefits of international students to the United Kingdom economy. Global Value, a study published by the British Council in September 2007, estimated that the total value of international higher education students to the UK economy as being over 5.6 billion a year. In 2006/07, the latest year for which data are available, there were 351,470 non-UK domiciled students studying in the UK, of which 308,990 were at higher education institutions in England and Wales.
	Tables showing the requested information about  (a) country of domicile for students at each higher education institution in England and Wales and  (b) the income received by each higher education institution in respect of tuition fees are being sent to the hon. Member separately. A copy of each table has been placed in the Libraries.

Students: Finance

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 7187-8W, how much debt incurred by students from EU member states receiving tuition fee  (a) loans and  (b) grants was (i) written off and (ii) behind schedule in each year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: Since students from EU member states became eligible for tuition fee loans in September 2006, fewer than five student loan borrowers from EU member states have had their loan balances written off. The two main reasons for these loans being cancelled were death and permanent disability. These write-offs took place in the financial year 2007-08. To ensure that no individual can be identified and to maintain their confidentiality the exact number of borrowers has been rounded and the amount of money excluded.
	On 31 March 2008, no EU students were behind schedule in making repayments.

Students: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent on  (a) maintenance grants,  (b) student loans, and  (c) teaching costs for students at English universities who did not complete their studies in the most recent 12 months, broken down by (i) UK-domiciled undergraduates, (ii) EU-domiciled undergraduates, (iii) international undergraduates, (iv) UK-domiciled postgraduates, (v) EU-domiciled postgraduates and (vi) international postgraduates.

Bill Rammell: Student retention rates at higher education institutions in this country compare very well internationally. The UK ranks 5(th) in the OECD for first degree completion rates, out of 23 countries who report data in this area. The Government are totally committed to providing opportunities for all people to achieve their potential and to maximise their talent. We have significantly increased the financial support for students, and working with Higher Education Institutions and other partners, improved guidance and other support to students. A university education is now open to more students than ever before.
	
		
			  Grants and allowances and student loans made in academic year 2006/07 to students who Students Loans Company were subsequently notified had withdrawn from their course 
			   Domicile  Students  Amount paid () 
			 Grants and allowances(1) English 17,100 26,171,000 
			 
			  Student loans
			 Fees and Maintenance English 28,100 80,394,000 
			 Tuition fees only EU 300 371,000 
			 (1) Includes maintenance grants and other grants and allowances but excludes tuition fee grants. This information is not available for maintenance grants separately. Grants and allowances paid to students who withdrew from their courses represent 4 per cent. of all grants and allowances paid. Loans made to students who withdrew represent 3 per cent. of loans paid.  Source: Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Postgraduate students are not eligible for student loans and grants, except for those on courses of Initial Teacher Training who are eligible for the undergraduate package. Information is not available separately for postgraduate Initial Teacher Training students. EU students are not eligible for maintenance grants or maintenance loans, but can apply for tuition fee loans. Students from outside the EU are not eligible for student maintenance grants or loans. Fee loans are paid direct to the Institution if a student is in attendance three months from the start of the course. Students who withdraw from higher education are liable to begin repaying their tuition and maintenance loans in the April after they withdraw, if their income is above 15,000 per year. Where a student who withdraws has been in receipt of grants, the local authority has the discretion to make a reassessment and reclaim any overpayment based on the number of days the student was undertaking the course from the first day of the academic year to the date of withdrawal.
	Teaching costs are around 4,000 per full-time student per year. This information is not available by domicile of student or level separately. Higher Education Institutions do not receive HEFCE funding for international students. They are able to charge these students the full cost of delivery.

Students: Loans

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much is owed to the Student Loans Company by  (a) people resident in each county of the UK,  (b) people resident in other EU member states and  (c) people resident outside the EU; and how much is owed to it in total;
	(2)  how many people owe money to the Student Loans Company, broken down by their  (a) county of residence,  (b) sex and  (c) region of residence.

Bill Rammell: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on  (a) commissioning and  (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

David Lammy: holding answer 24 June 2008
	The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of machinery of government changes in June 2007. To date the Department has not spent any funds on the commissioning or funding the production of television programmes.

Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on creating systems for the validation of non-formal and informal learning and the incorporation of such into the formal national qualification system, as referred to in section 2.1 of EU document 2008/C 86/01.

Bill Rammell: The Government are developing the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to enable new unit and credit-based qualifications to be recognised. The distinction between informal, non-formal and formal learning in respect of this EU document is defined by the context (e.g. formal learning takes place in an institution), or by the process of learning (e.g. e-learning is non-formal learning) or by the content (e.g. basic literacy is informal learning). The QCF is concerned with the outcomes of learning, rather than context, process or delivery institution. It can recognise achievements through any of these definitions. Provided the outcomes of learning are organised into a unit format, they can be given a level and a credit value and count towards a qualification irrespective of the process of learning that leads to these outcomes.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from regional newspapers on the local video news services which the BBC proposes to develop.

Andy Burnham: I have received a number of direct representations from regional newspapers on BBC's plans for online local news provision. However, this is a matter for the BBC. There is no provision for the Government to intervene in the BBC's day-to-day operational or editorial matters.

BBC: Olympic Games

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will discuss with the BBC coverage of any human rights protests during the Beijing Olympics.

Andy Burnham: Responsibility for what is broadcast on television and radio rests with the broadcasters and the organisations that regulate broadcastingthe Office of Communications (Ofcom), the BBC Trust and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority (S4C). They are independent of Government and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for the Government to have this discussion with the BBC.

Bookmakers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1046W, on bookmakers, if he will make it his objective for the negotiations to lead to a UK-wide agreement for how long racecourses will recognise on-course bookmakers' list positions.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We wish to see racecourses negotiating contracts with the bookmakers who maintain pitches on them, including holders of existing pitch list positions. Inevitably these contracts will vary from course to course, taking account of local circumstances. In order for racecourses and bookmakers to agree contracts it will clearly be necessary for these to contain provisions on duration and renewability which are acceptable to both sides. The Government are keen to see examples of satisfactory agreements disseminated across the industry.

Clore Leadership Programme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments Arts Council England made to the Clore Leadership Programme in each of the last five years; and for what purpose.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 26 June 2008
	According to Arts Council England, it has made payments to the Clore Leadership programme as set out in the following table. These payments were for a mixture of course participation and grant funding. Course participation refers to money spent on training courses, and grant funding refers to the funding of the Clore Fellows.
	
		
			
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 190,000 
			 2005-06 212,500 
			 2006-07 675,343 
			 2007-08 628,656 
		
	
	The cost in 2006-07 increased because of the introduction of the Clore Short Courses programme. 14 courses were run over a period of two years.

Clore Leadership Programme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to answer Question 214008, tabled by the hon. Member for South West Surrey on 23 June, on the Clore Leadership Programme.

Margaret Hodge: I answered the question from the hon. Member for South-West Surrey today.

Departmental Accountancy

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1802W, on departmental accountancy, on what date he expects to  (a) lay before Parliament and  (b) publish his Department's annual resource accounts for 2007-08.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The annual resource accounts for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for 2007-08 will be laid before Parliament by 17 July 2008 with a publication target of 18 August 2008 subject to the completion of printing by the Stationery Office.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value of the property held by  (a) his Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information for the latest year for which information is available is provided in the following table. The 2007-08 data are currently being compiled and will be available in the near future.
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  000 
			   Total  DCMS (including consolidated agency)  Other associated public bodies 
			 NBV of dwellings 9,132 4,006 5,126 
			 NBV of other land and buildings 2,819,546 75,552 2,743,994 
			 
			 Total NBV 2,828,678 79,558 2,749,120 
		
	
	This information relates to the net book value (NBV) as shown in the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) returns from NDPBs sponsored by DCMS, and also as prepared for WGA by DCMS and its agency body. Public corporations that DCMS sponsors have not been included.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All staff are instructed to turn off computer devices overnight. No estimate of the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight has been made.
	My Department is in the process of deploying a system to ensure that computer devices are turned off overnight.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department and its agency have been  (a) dismissed and  (b) disciplined for their conduct in the last two years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) There has been one member of staff dismissed in DCMS in the last two years and none from Royal Parks Agency.
	 (b) There have been no staff formally disciplined for their conduct in either DCMS of the Royal Parks Agency in the past two years.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 10 staff have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Departmental Local Area Agreements

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what local area agreements his Department has entered into in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: 150 local area agreements were approved by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 30 June 2008 on behalf of the whole of Government. Individual Departments, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, have been involved in negotiations with local areas.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the change in the number of employees in his Department and its agencies has been since July 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agency the Royal Parks the number of full time equivalent (FTE) employees at 31 July 2006 was 519 and 96.7 respectively. The FTE figures as at 31 May 2008 were 466 and 101.5 respectively.

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has a zero spend on public information campaigns between 1997 and 2002. Expenditure in subsequent years is set out as follows by specified area:
	
		
			  (a) Internet and website design and hosting 
			   Campaign  Design ()  Hosting () 
			 2003-04 BBC Charter (1)0 (2)20,000 
			 2005-06 Breakout 17,500 (2)20,000 
			 2005-06 Licensing (1)0 (2)20,000 
			 (1) Design done in-house using existing resources (2) 20,000 includes the cost for the server which is also used to host five departmental websites. Individual costs cannot be separated out. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Print media design 
			   Campaign  Spend () 
			 2003-04 BBC Charter 20,987 
			 2005-06 Licensing 51,028 
			 2006-07 Tourism consultation 4,903 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Broadcast media 
			   Campaign  Spend () 
			 2004-05 BBC Charter 37,085

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of staff of his Department and its agency did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Royal Parks Agency (DCMS's Executive agency) 
			  Appraisal year  Percentage of staff that did not receive the maximum performance bonus 
			 2005-06 99 
			 2006-07 99 
		
	
	
		
			  Department for Culture, Media and Sport 
			  Appraisal year  Percentage of staff that did not receive the maximum performance bonus 
			 2005-06 78 
			 2006-07 85 
			  Notes: 1. DCMS has not yet finalised its end of year performance bonuses for 2007-08 appraisal year. 2. The figures stated in the tables relate to all grades, including the end of year performance bonuses awarded to senior civil servants. 3. The bonuses relate to staff who were entitled to a DCMS end of year performance bonus and do not include staff who joined the Department during the year and received a bonus from another organisation. 4. Special in-year bonus payments are not included in the tables.

Departmental Publications

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on publishing in each of the last three years, broken down by publication.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 6 June 2008
	 The amount spent on publishing for each of the last three years was:
	
		
			   Amount spent on publishing () 
			 2005-06 191,854.56 
			 2006-07 143,283.50 
			 2007-08 303,218.50 
		
	
	The breakdown for each publication is as follows:
	
		
			  Publication title  Cost ( ex. VAT) 
			 April 2005 to March 2006  
			 Gambling Act 2005: What it means for Licensing Authorities 769.31 
			 Listing CriteriaPublic Consultation 2,346.44 
			 Ecclesiastical Exemption 581.62 
			 Hague Convention Consultation 5,549.34 
			 Marine ConsultationAnalysis of responses 581.62 
			 Treasure Annual Report 28,581.71 
			 Museums Acquisitions 2,976.80 
			 Human Remains Code of Practice 3,984.31 
			 Open House Leaflet 368.00 
			 Total Reward Leaflet 2,209.00 
			 Sustainable Development Plan 2,955.50 
			 DCMS Annual Report 46,229.30 
			 Abolition of Slavery leaflet 1,861.47 
			 Lottery Good Causes Consultation 1,143.25 
			 Digital Housing Project (reprint) 1,350 
			 Communicating with the over 65 years: Desk Research document 1,010.50 
			 Digital Expert Group report document 503 
			 The role of higher and further education in the Creative Industries full document 4,180 
			 The role of higher and further education in the Creative Industries A4 summary 1,138 
			 The role of higher and further education in the Creative Industries flyer 920 
			 Market for Art: Government reply to 6th report CMS Committeetype setting and printing 1,580.00 
			 Report on Theatre: Government response to CMS committee typesetting and printing 1,690.00 
			 Public Libraries: Government response to CMS Select Committee, typesetting and printing 1,910.00 
			 DCMS Resource Accounts 4,619.49 
			 Export of objects of cultural interest 12,243 
			 National Lottery Dist fund typesetting/printing 2,326.00 
			 Government response to committee report on charter Reviewtype setting and printing 1,544.00 
			 Spoliation Advisory Panel report 3,164.00 
			 BBC White Paper 15,311.90 
			 Broadcasting Cricket document 3,164.00 
			 Spoliation Advisory Panel/4 drawings 1,740.00 
			 Government response to Lords Select Committee on charter Review 1,544.00 
			 DCMS Business Plan reprint 1,350.00 
			 Dynamic Action Plan 1,540.00 
			 Dance Link brochure: Design, Artwork and print 11,912.00 
			 BBC Charter White Paper 17,765 
			 Sustainable Development Action Plan 2,812 
			 Total 191,854.56 
			   
			  April 2006 to March 2007  
			 About Us (Amendments and reprint) 1,375.88 
			 Gambling Act: Transitional Arrangements Consultation 1,233.70 
			 Laying the Foundations 12,992.00 
			 Nurturing Creativity in Young People 14,310 
			 Digital Expert Group report (July 2006) document 457.50 
			 Gambling Act: Fees document 1,545 
			 Spoliation Advisory PanelAshmolean Report 3,164.00 
			 Tourism Consultation document 8,500 
			 Working Together: local authorities and DCMS 8,500 
			 BBC Further Revised Draft Royal Charter 330 
			 BBC Revised Draft Royal Charter and BBC Revised Draft Framework Agreement 2,227 
			 BBC Draft Royal Charter and Framework Agreement 2,760 
			 DCMS Business Plan 2006-07 3,503 
			 DCMS annual report 19,083.85 
			 Creativity Review 440 
			 Museums Strategy 2,923 
			 Broadcasting: Copy of Royal Charter for the Continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation (Cm 6925) 1,587 
			 The Community Radio Sector: Looking to the Future 2,796 
			 Export of Objects of Cultural Interest 2005-06 11,950 
			 Heritage Protection for the 21st Century (Cm 7057) 9,550 
			 Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Report on 'London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games: Funding and Legacy' (Cm 7071) 960 
			 Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Inquiry into Call TV quiz shows (Cm 7072) 552 
			 Treasure report 25,260 
			 Heritage Protection Review 7,283.50 
			 Total 143,283.50 
			   
			  April 2007 to March 2008  
			 Cm 7057: Heritage Protection for the 21(st) Century 9,520 
			 Cm 7071: Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Report on London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games: Funding and Legacy (HC69) 960 
			 Cm 7072: Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Inquiry into Call TV quiz shows 552 
			 Cm 7088: Government Response to the Science And Technology Select Committee Report on Human Enhancement Technologies 948 
			 Cm 7118: The Digital Switchover Help Scheme: A Scheme Agreement Between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the British Broadcasting Corporation 2,299 
			 Cm 7184: Government Response to the NAO Review of the Experiences of UK Nationals Affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami 1,652 
			 Cm 7309: Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Report on Public Service Content (HC36-1) 1,269 
			 Public Appointments and Public Bodies 2,935 
			 Winning: A tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond 27,321 
			 Winning: A tourism Strategy for 2012 and beyondExecutive summary 6,625 
			 London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report January 2008 22,805 
			 Staying Ahead: the economic performance of 62,466 
			 7/7 flyer 275 
			 HC63 Report of the Spoliation Advisory Panel in respect of three Rubens Paintings 1,571 
			 London Open House leaflet 675 
			 Export of Objects of Cultural Interest 2005-06 12,627 
			 CM7236 Government Response to House of Lords Select Committee on Communications 460 
			 CM7186 Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport select committee report into New Media and the Creative Industries 712 
			 Our Promise for 2012: How the UK will benefit from the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 19,469 
			 Our Promise for 2012: How the UK will benefit from the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Welsh version) 2,847 
			 Our Promise for 2012: How the UK will benefit from the Olympic Games and Paralympic leaflet 10,570 
			 Our Promise for 2012: How the UK will benefit from the Olympic Games and Paralympic leaflet (Welsh version) 982 
			 Sustainable development action plan 1,487.50 
			 Culture on Demand: Ways to engage a Broader audience 16,220 
			 Culture and Creativity in 2007 8,949 
			 Community Amateur Sports Club(CASC) scheme leaflet 2,357 
			 Helping keep your child safe in sport: Child protection leaflet for parents 7,060 
			 Findings and Recommendation of the Live Music Forum 39,793 
			 Final Report of the Casino Advisory Panel 12,600 
			 Treasure Annual Report 2004 24,114 
			 Cenotaph Memorial Order of service 1,098 
			 Total 303,218.50

English Sports Council: Expenditure

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many projects have received funding from Sport England's Community Projects Revenue Fund since 1999; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who participated in those projects.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has advised that the Community Projects Revenue Fund is a generic term for a series of funding streams including Sports Action Zones and other community initiatives, and not a single funding stream for which such information is centrally held.
	Sport England has advised that 384 projects were supported through the Active Communities Development Fund, Sports Action Zones and Active Sports. Sport England advise that no estimate has been made of the number of people who have benefited from these projects.

English Sports Council: Expenditure

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many awards Sport England made to projects encouraging  (a) school,  (b) after-school and  (c) community club links in each year since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has advised that it does not hold the information in the format required. However, awards have been made to a number of National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport to support the school club links workstrand of the Government's PE and School Sport for Young People programme.
	These awards enable the NGBs to create and develop links between schools and community sports clubs, with the aim of increasing the number of children aged 5-16 years participating in community sport. In total, 14,646,859 million is being invested.
	The number of NGBs receiving awards has been as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number 
			 2003-04 7 
			 2004-05 22 
			 2005-06 22 
			 2006-07 22 
			 2007-08 22 
			 2008-09 23 
		
	
	Sport England has advised that it also funded a total of 1,656 projects as part of the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) in the period 2003 to 2008. Projects funded as part of the programme must demonstrate links to school and after-school activity. Sport England has committed a total of 100,221,827 investment into Community Club Development Programme between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2008.

Fast Track

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what services Fast Track supplies to his Department; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department is at an advanced stage of negotiations with Fast Track regarding their role in raising 100 million from the private sector to support elite athletes.

Fast Track

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials in his Department have had with representatives of Fast Track since February.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since February, the Secretary of State has met Fast Track on three occasions: on 3 April, 2 July and 9 July. I also met Fast Track on 3 April and 2 July. There have been frequent meetings between officials and Fast Track.

Festivals and Special Occasions

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on promoting  (a) St Patrick's Day,  (b) St David's Day,  (c) Eid,  (d) Diwali and  (e) Hanukkah in the last year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There has been no cost to the Department on promoting St. Patrick's Day, St. David's Day, Eid, Diwali or Hanukkah in the last year. The Department has a calendar of religious festivals on its intranet site which is accessible to all staff.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Margaret Hodge: The Department holds the information set out relating to fish purchased in financial year 2007-08. Information is not available for previous years.
	
		
			  Product  Approximate w eight (kg)  2007-08  Total c ost 2007-08 ()  Marine Stewardship Council Standard 
			 Haddock/cod fillet tail 312 2,392.56 Yes 
			 Tuna in brine 593 2,349.36 Yes 
			 Sandwich prawns 65 328.90 Yes 
			 Smoked salmon 26 786.24 Yes 
			 Salmon fillet 14 52.50 No

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library the minutes of all meetings of the Government Art Collection Committee where the decoration and art work in No. 10 Downing Street were discussed since January 2007.

Margaret Hodge: There is no Government Art Collection Committee to discuss the decoration and works of art in No. 10 Downing street. The Government Art Collection (GAC) advise on the pictures to be hung in 10 Downing street. The pictures are changed periodically as those loaned to the house are returned to the collection from which they have been drawn.

Licensing: Circuses

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on travelling circuses; what steps he plans to take to mitigate any negative effects; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are committed to action on many of the irritations about the application process which were highlighted by circuses in their helpful responses to our survey last year. For example, we intend to bring forward shortly a new minor variations process that will, among other things, allow a quicker and lower cost mechanism for altering plans. We are also looking at how we can make aspects of the application process more flexible and less costly, including the greater use of electronic applications.
	While our priority is to progress the commitments in our simplification plan, we will also start to look at possible alternative arrangements which better reflect the nature of travelling entertainment performed at multiple sites. Any such changes would, of course, require full public consultation and would have to be supported by a full impact assessment.

Listed Buildings

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding was available for the upkeep of  (a) Grade I,  (b) Grade II and  (c) Grade III listed buildings in (i) Ribble Valley constituency, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England in the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 June 2008
	There are three types of funding available for the upkeep of listed buildings, through English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Total spend cannot always easily be broken down by geographical area, but where possible this has been provided.
	1. English Heritage have provided the following information on the funding they have made available for the upkeep of historic buildings in each of the last three years:
	
		
			   
			   England  North West region 
			 2005-06 18,770,000 3,610,000 
			 2006-07 20,050,000 2,813,685 
			 2007-08 18,625,000 2,379,725 
		
	
	These funds were the total available across all the relevant English Heritage grant schemes from which buildings at all grades might benefit. However, English Heritage's resources are largely focused on Grade I and Grade 2* buildings. Grade 3 is no longer in use as an official classification although some local authorities use it to denote local interest.
	English Heritage's budget is allocated regionally and so more detailed information is not available for Lancashire or Ribble Valley. English Heritage's north-west region comprises Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester/Lancashire and Merseyside.
	2. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funds projects which conserve, and enable more people to take part in, take decisions about and learn about the UK's heritage.
	HLF administers a number of competitive open grants programmes under which listed buildings can be fundedeither as separate projects in their own right, or as part of broader projects through HLF's thematic grants programmes such as Parks for People, the Townscape Heritage Initiative and the Landscape Partnerships scheme. HLF may fund the conservation and restoration of a listed building provided the application meets all the criteria of the relevant programme.
	HLF ring-fences an element of its funding for decision in each English region and Scotland/Wales and Northern Ireland, and also has nationwide programmes funded from separate UK-wide pots. Funding is not ring-fenced on a constituency or county level. Details of available funding, as provided by HLF, are as follows:
	
		
			   
			   Funding available under programmes which can fund listed buildings   
			  FY  Ring-fenced to north-west  Nine English regions ring-fenced budgets( 1)  Additional UK-wide budget  Funding available for listed buildings in north-west( 2)  Funding available for listed buildings in England( 3) 
			 2005-06 15,415,230 112,700,000 207,300,000 222,715,230 320,000,000 
			 2006-07 14,189,138 103,300,000 180,700,000 194,889,138 284,000,000 
			 2007-08 13,089,138 95,800,000 153,200,000 166,289,138 249,000,000 
			 (1) Includes north-west ring-fenced budget. (2) Ring-fenced north-west budget plus additional UK-wide budget. (3) Nine ring-fenced English regional budgets plus UK-wide budget. 
		
	
	3. The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme makes grants equivalent to the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship. It is not possible to identify the scheme's expenditure in the Ribble Valley constituency, or identify the spend by listing grade.
	
		
			   
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Lancashire 77,724 308,336 321,753 
			 England 12,485,548 11,651,298 12,062,290

Oceanic House

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the disposal of Oceanic House.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Negotiations are currently taking place with the landlord of Oceanic House about an early surrender of the lease. If these are unsuccessful the property will be placed on the open market.

Personal Injury

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the highest 10 payments made by his Department in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it were over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of those cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by the Department; and what the nature of the incident was in each case.

Margaret Hodge: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport there have been no personal injury claims brought during the last 12 months.

Public Houses

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he has conducted or evaluated research on the contribution of public houses to British culture.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has not conducted formal research into the contribution of public houses to British culture, but it maintains extensive contacts with representatives of the on-trade and recognises the importance of public houses within many communities.
	The Department ensures that other Government Departments are aware of the social and economic importance of the pub industry so that decisions taken by them which impact on the on-trade are properly informed. We look forward to considering the findings of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group Inquiry into Community Pubs.

Sports: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards the Government's target of securing 20 million per year of funding for elite sport from private sponsorship.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department continues to work with UK Sport and others in the development of proposals to secure funding from the private sector.

Video Games

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made on establishing a centre for excellence for computer games production, as proposed in the Government's 2008 Creative Britain report.

Margaret Hodge: The Northwest Regional Development Agency is commissioning a feasibility study into establishing a centre of excellence for computer games, which is due to report on 31 January 2009.

Video Games: EU Grants and Loans

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what EU grant aid may be provided for development of computer games in the UK with an EU cultural element; and what the qualifying criteria are for such grant aid.

Margaret Hodge: There is no specific European grant aid for games companies but UK games companies can access investment through European regional development funds.
	Article 87(3)(d) of the EC treaty authorises member states to give aid to promote culture provided it does not adversely affect trading conditions and competition, but at the moment this does not apply to video games in the UK.
	Within the UK, Government currently offer research and development (R and D) tax credits for businesses. As one of the commitments in our recently published Creative Britain document, we have outlined the aim to work with small businesses, with a particular focus on the video games industry, to make the current system of R and D tax credits more user friendly.
	The Technology Strategy Board are currently assessing bids to a new 10 million fund to inspire new collaborative research and development ideas for the creative industries, including the video games industry.
	First awards have already been made for feasibility study bids (awards up to 15,000); these are done on a monthly basis on a cycle running from March-August.

HOME DEPARTMENT

UK Border Agency

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the performance of the UK Border Agency.

Liam Byrne: Since the start of the year, the new United Kingdom Border Agency has stopped 6,000 illegal immigrants and removed over 2,400 FNPs.
	Since April the new agency has seized 83 million of drugs, 200 million cigarettes and 800 dangerous weapons; searched 287,000 freight vehicles; and triggered 280 arrests through screening passenger information.
	The agency has also recorded over 2 million fingerprints and detected nearly 3,000 cases of ID swaps. It has also issued 352 fines to firms employing illegal immigrants with a value of 3.4 million.

National DNA Database

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of detections of crimes made possible by the retention of DNA samples on the National DNA Database.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of detections of crimes made possible by the use of DNA samples retained on the National DNA Database.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of detections of crimes made possible by the use of DNA samples retained on the National DNA Database.

Meg Hillier: It is estimated that over the period April 1998 to March 2007, there have been approximately 240,000 detections in which a DNA match was available or played a part in solving the crime. Figures for the 2007-08 financial year will be available shortly.

Asylum Seekers: Iraqi Minorities

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on those from Christian and other minorities in Iraq seeking asylum in the UK.

Liam Byrne: The United Kingdom considers all asylum claims, including those from Iraqi nationals, on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. All claims are considered against the background of the latest country information and country guidance case law as decided by the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Asylum Seekers: Zimbabwe

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the detention in the UK of Zimbabwean asylum seekers.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency has recently received representations from a small number of individuals, including Members of the House, the chair of the Independent Monitoring Board for Haslar and detainees themselves, on the detention in the UK of Zimbabwean asylum seekers.

Newport Passport Office

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to close Newport passport office.

Meg Hillier: No.

Knife Crime

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department What recent assessment she has made of trends in levels of knife crime.

Vernon Coaker: We recognise that more and younger people are carrying knives. We acknowledge that the use of knives and other weapons indicates an ongoing trend for young people to carry knives either to protect themselves or for credibility from their peers. Any incident involving a knife is completely unacceptable. That is why we are investing 2 million on a targeted programme to tackle knife crime in eight police force areas.

Knife Crime

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to reduce knife crime.

Vernon Coaker: We recognise that knife crime is a problem. That is why we are investing 2 million on a targeted programme working with police forces and local authority partners to tackle knife crime in the most affected areas. In addition, we have increased our powers and penalties and are investing in prevention and education to tackle this problem.

Police Service: Public Accountability

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on improving the public accountability of the police service.

Tony McNulty: Following the reviews of policing and community safety by Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Louise Casey, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received representations from ACPO and the APA among others on many issues, including police accountability. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary intends to publish a Green Paper later this week with proposals to improve the police accountability.

Trafficking: Sexual Exploitation

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.

Jacqui Smith: Operation Pentameter 2, the UK's largest anti-trafficking operation, recently recovered 167 victims of sexual exploitation. We will ratify later this year the Council of Europe Convention against trafficking, as part of our comprehensive strategy against trafficking which is set out in our Action Plan, updated on 2 July.

Prostitution: Decriminalisation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research she has evaluated on the effects of decriminalisation of prostitution in other countries.

Vernon Coaker: As part of the Government's review of measures to tackle the demand for prostitution we have commissioned research comparing policy approaches adopted in other jurisdictions, including New Zealand, which has decriminalised prostitution. Our findings will be published as part of the outcome of this review, in the autumn.

Crime: Rural Areas

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce crime in rural areas.

Vernon Coaker: Both the British Crime Survey and recorded crime statistics show that crime is lower in rural areas.
	The Home Office has undertaken actions which directly benefit rural communities such as establishing farm, horse, country and poacher watch schemes. In my hon. Friend's constituency in Sedgefield a farmwatch scheme is now in place.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of Zanu-PF members in  (a) Southend and  (b) the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 July 2008
	 Statistics on membership of Zanu-PF are not collected by the Home Office.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which buildings occupied by her Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Liam Byrne: The Department's agencies, shadow agency and non-departmental public bodies occupy the buildings listed as follows where the lease (or inter-departmental agreement where applicable) is due for renewal in the next four years.
	 Building addresses
	India Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 OXG
	Unit 31, Orton Southgate, Tresham Road, Peterborough, PE2 6SG
	Milburngate House, Framwellgate, Durham, County Durham DH99 1NS
	Dock Police Station, Dock Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 3SE
	Templepatrick Police Station, 900 Antrim Road, Belfast BT39 OAH
	Hampton House, 47-53 High Street, Belfast BT1 2QS
	21-47 High Street, Feltham Green, Middlesex TW13 4AG
	Poplar House, Tawe Business Village, Phoenix Way, Swansea SA7 9LA
	Oaklands House, Washway Road, Sale, Manchester, M33 6IS
	Martins Building, Water Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 3SP
	Greystoke Business Centre, High Street, Portishead, Bristol BS20 9PY
	Leon House, 233 High Street, Croydon, Surrey CR0 9XT
	Vancouver House, County Court Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5EJ
	Medvale House, Mote Road, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6AE
	161 Brooms Road, Dumfries, Dumfrieshire, DG1 3EX
	Mercury Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool L2 2PQ
	Whitgift Centre, Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 3LY
	Boston Police Station, Lincoln Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 8QX
	2308 Coventry Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B26 3JS
	Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3BL
	Reliance House, 20 Water Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 8XU
	Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 1DS
	Olympia House, Upper Dock Street, Newport, Monmouthshire NP20 1XA
	Windsor Place, 24 Windsor Place, Cardiff, Glamorgan CF10 3BY
	The Plaza, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 9QJ
	Unit 15 Kinning Park, Glasgow, Strathclyde G4 1RR
	Brunswick House, 8-13 Brunswick Place, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 2AP
	Bennett House, Town Road, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 2QB
	Norman House, Kettering Terrace, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 7AE
	Ground Floor, The Observatory, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4NT
	New Kings Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London SE1 (NPIAlease to 23 June 2012))
	10 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0NN
	Moorfoot, Sheffield S1 4PQ
	Bennett House, Town Road, Stoke, ST1 2QB
	The Triad, Stanley Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3BE
	Allington Towers, Allington Street, London SW1E 5EB
	Regent Centre, Regent Road, Aberdeen AB11 5NS
	Northgate House, Northgate Street, Aberystwyth SY23 2JS
	Aldwych House, Winchester Street, Andover SP10 2EA
	17-21 Market Street, Armagh BT61 7BW
	Norwood House, 102-106 Great Victoria Street Belfast, BT2 7BE
	Units 34 The Chandlery, The Quayside, Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 1HE
	Kensington House, Suffolk Street, Queensway, Birmingham B1 1LN
	St. John's Court, Ainsworth Street, Blackburn BB1 6AR
	Dean Park House, 8-10 Dean Park Crescent, Bournemouth BHI 1HL
	42 Frederick Place, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4EA
	Monarch House, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol BS1 4EX
	Units 1  2 Hillside Business Park, Kempson Way, Bury St. Edmunds IP32 7EA
	Ground Floor, Regents Court, Kingmoor, Carlisle CA6 4SJ
	Rosebery House, 41 Springfield Road, Chelmsford CM2 6JJ
	Montpellier House, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham GL50 1TA
	River House, Castle Lane, Waterside, Coleraine BT51 3DP
	Belgrave House, Station Way, Crawley RH10 1HU
	Stuart House, Green Lane, Derby DE1 1RS
	Maybrook House, 25 New Street, Dover CT17 9AJ
	161 Brooms Road, Dumfries DG1 3EX
	Units 123 the Nethergate Centre, 78 Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4ER
	Apex 3, 95 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5HD
	Renslade House, Bonhay Road, Exeter EX4 3AY
	Blythswood House, 200 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4DQ
	Lyle House, Fairways Business Park, Inverness IV2 6AA
	Crown House, Crown Street, Ipswich IP1 3HS
	Bridge Mills, Stramongate, Kendal LA9 4UB
	Vancouver House, County Court Road, Kings Lynn PE30 5EW
	Aldgate House, 1-4 Market Place, Kingston upon Hull HU1 1RA
	33 Park Place, Leeds LS1 2RY
	Wellington House, Wellington Street, Leicester LE1 6HL
	City Office Park, Tritton Road, Lincoln LN6 7AS
	Nations House, Edmund Street, Liverpool L3 9NY
	Hannibal House, Elephant  Castle, Southwark, London SE1 6TE
	A W House, Stuart Street, Luton LU1 2SW
	Medvale House, Mote Road, Maidstone ME15 6AH
	Westminster House, Portland Street, Manchester M1 3HU
	Training and Enterprise House, 2 Queens Square, Middlesbrough TS2 1AA
	No. 2 Cathedral Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EE
	Chartist Tower, Upper Dock Street, Newport NP20 1DW
	Cross Business Park, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5WN
	Aquila House, St. Giles Terrace, Northampton NN1 2BN
	St. Crispens House, Duke St., Norwich NR3 1PD
	Suite 2, 2 Glengallon Road, Glenshellach Business Park, Oban PA34 4HH
	41a Dublin Road, Omagh BT78 1H
	Wallbrook Court, North Hinksey Road, Botley, Oxford OX2 0QS
	West Midgate House, Midgate, Peterborough PE1 1TN.
	Mayflower House, Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 1LD
	Enterprise House, Isambard Brunel Road, Portsmouth PO1 2RX
	Kings Reach, 38-50 Kings Road, Reading RG1 3AA
	Council Chambers, Penryn Street, Redruth TR15 2SP
	Canalside House, Charter Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 1AJ
	Unit 4, Plaxton Park, Cayton Low Road, Scarborough YO11 3BQ
	Unit 8, Tweed Business Park, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk TD7 5DU
	Milton House, Charter Row, Sheffield S1 3FZ
	Mercury House, 2 Creative Quarter, Shrewsbury SY2 6LG
	Units 1  2 The Point, Lions Way, Sleaford NG34 8GG
	Crown Yealm House, Pathfields Business Park, South Molton EX36 3LH
	Unit 3 Great Western House, The Sidings, Carlyon Road, St. Austell, Cornwall PL25 4DB
	Ground floor Scotia House, The Castle Business Park, Stirling FK9 4TZ
	Ground floor, Riverside II Office Park, Campbell Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 4RJ
	Unit 3 Axis Court, Riverside Business Park, Swansea SA7 0AJ
	Wiltshire Court, Farnsbury Street, Swindon SN1 5AH
	Westgate House, Market Street, Warwick CV34 4DH
	Unit 2 Wick Business Park, Wick KW1 4QR
	Kingsway House, Ellice Way, Wrexham LL13 7YT
	Brunel House, Mead Avenue Houdstone Business Park, Yeovil BA22 8RT
	Rougier House, 5 Rougier Street, York YO1 6HZ
	The aforementioned excludes leases that go beyond but with tenants breaks inside four years, leases for immigration use at ports of entry, leases outside the UK and leases where national security precludes their inclusion. 68 of the leases are held under a PPP agreement for the Authentication by Interview passport programme.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the hourly rates of pay of all non-permanent staff working for her Department and its agencies were in each of the last 12 months; and how many staff were receiving each rate in each of those months.

Liam Byrne: Table 1 attached details the range of hourly salary rates and the number of employees on each rate for staff classified as casual, fixed term, fee paid, sandwich course student or contractor. The figures cover the core Department, UK Borders Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau and are for the period May 2007 to April 2008.
	The data were taken from the Department's payroll system. It has not been possible to provide information relating to agency staff as they are employed directly by individual business units. Full information on hourly rates is therefore not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to provide these data.
	
		
			   Number of employees  
			   2007  2008  
			  Hourly rate  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  Number of times hourly rate paid in 2007-08 
			 4.00 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 9 
			 5.00 84 89 79 90 111 105 109 94 87 82 70 64 1,064 
			 6.00 68 82 102 102 118 107 114 136 127 112 90 83 1,241 
			 7.00 12 22 67 63 30 31 31 28 27 26 28 26 391 
			 8.00 9 8 26 34 26 29 29 32 25 32 21 20 291 
			 9.00 3 8 8 8 8 5 6 5 12 4 3 4 74 
			 10.00 3 5 36 30 29 20 22 20 18 19 20 21 243 
			 11.00 3 3 7 7 11 10 8 8 6 5 6 6 80 
			 12.00 2 1 2 2 4 3 5 4 5 6 6 6 46 
			 13.00 2 4 4 2 5 7 8 6 3 3 3 4 51 
			 14.00 3 3 5 3 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 27 
			 15.00 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13 
			 16.00 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 28 
			 17.00 0 0 2 2 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 10 
			 18.00 2 2 7 7 6 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 51 
			 19.00 2 1 3 3 5 5 5 4 3 3 3 3 40 
			 20.00 1 1 6 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 12 
			 21.00 1 1 2 7 5 6 6 6 8 7 7 6 62 
			 22.00 1 1 5 5 3 3 5 3 3 2 2 2 35 
			 23.00 0 0 4 4 5 6 4 5 5 5 6 6 50 
			 24.00 2 2 4 5 6 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 33 
			 25.00 0 0 3 3 2 8 7 8 8 8 6 6 59 
			 26.00 0 0 1 2 6 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 33 
			 27.00 0 0 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 
			 28.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 
			 29.00 0 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 18 
			 30.00 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 20 
			 31.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 
			 32.00 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 
			 33.00 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 17 
			 35.00 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16 
			 36.00 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 37.00 3 3 0 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 
			 38.00 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 40.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 41.00 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 10 
			 42.00 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 44.00 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 45.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 46.00 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 7 
			 48.00 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 8 
			 51.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1 1 1 4 
			 53.00 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 54.00 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 78.00 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 9 
			 79.00 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 9 
			 80.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 81.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 108.00 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 9 
			 109.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			   
			 Total 213 248 393 400 404 381 394 391 367 343 301 289 4,124

Departmental Sick Pay

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of sickness pay to staff within her Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Table 1 as follows details the estimated direct salary cost to the Department of sickness absences in the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008, where periods of absence began in that financial year. The figures relate to staff in the core Department, United Kingdom Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau. The figures encapsulate employee salary costs, employer pension contributions and employer national insurance contributions.
	
		
			  Table 1: Calculated direct salary costs of sick absence in Home Office and agencies for 2007-08 
			  Extrapolated from total annual gross salary costs 
			   Number  Total estimated gross salary cost () 
			 Days Absence for 2007-08 338,713 25,142,084.23

Departmental Training

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department and its agencies have attended the  (a) Influencing with Integrity,  (b) Emotional Intelligence,  (c) Counselling Skills for the Workplace,  (d) Managing your Confidence,  (e) Balancing Work/Life Realities and  (f) Working Assertively training course run by the National School of Government in the last 12 months for which information is available; and at what cost.

Liam Byrne: Figures for course attendance and cost in the courses specified are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of staff attending each course in 2007-08 and the amount charged by the National School of Government 
			   Course code 
			   AAW  AWLB  CONF  COUN  IIS  PEP3 
			  Main Departments and agencies  No.  Charged ()  No.  Charged ()  No.  Charged ()  No.  Charged ()  No.  Charged ()  No.  Charged () 
			 Cabinet Office 2 1,452.00   2 2,129.00   9 6,534.00 1 1,495.00 
			 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 1 726.00   4 2,904.00 1 1,495.00 
			 Department for Children, Schools and Families 2 1,452.00 1 1,115.00 
			 Department for Communities and Local Government 5 3,630.00 2 2,160.00 1 1,149.00   8 5,808.00   
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1 726.00   
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 3 2,178.00   1 1,149.00   5 3,630.00   
			 Animal Health 1 726.00   
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 1 726.00   
			 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills 2 1,452.00   1 726.00   
			 UK Intellectual Property Office 1 1,149.00   
			 Department for International Development 1 726.00   1 1,149.00   9 6,534.00 1 1,495.00 
			 Department for Transport 1 726.00   1 1,149.00   3 2,178.00   
			 Driving Standards Agency 1 726.00   
			 Highways Agency   1 1,495.00 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency   1 1,495.00 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 5 3,630.00   2 2,298.00   10 7,260.00 1 1,495.00 
			 Department of Health 5 3,630.00 1 1,080.00 2 2,298.00   3 2,178.00   
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 
			 UK Visas United (Joint FCO/Home Office Directorate) 1 726.00   
			 HM Revenue and Customs 4 2,904.00 2 2,990.00 
			 HM Treasury 3 2,178.00   
			 Office for National Statistics 1 726.00   2 1,452.00   
			 Home Office 3 2,178.00 2 2,160.00 4 4,427.00 2 2,230.00 7 5,082.00 1 1,495.00 
			 Ministry of Defence 1 726.00   6 6,725.00 1 1,115.00 7 5,082.00 3 4,485.00 
			 Ministry of Justice 
			 HM Courts Service 1 726.00   
			 HM Prison Service 1 726.00   
			 Land Registry 2 1,452.00   2 2,129.00 1 1,115.00 8 5,808.00   
			 Tribunals Service   1 1,495.00 
			 Northern Ireland Office 1 1,149.00   1 726.00   
			  
			  Other Government Departments/  bodies 
			 Food Standards Agency 1 726.00   1 726.00   
			 Forestry Commission   2 2,990.00 
			 Government Communications Headquarters 2 2,298.00   
			 Government Office for the North West 1 726.00   
			 Her Majesty's Government Communication Centre   2 2,230.00 
			 National School of Government 1 0.00 1 0.00 1 0.00   
			 Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills 1 726.00   1 980.00   
			 Office of Climate Change 1 726.00   
			 Office of Rail Regulation 3 2,178.00   3 2,178.00   
			 Postal Services Commission (Postcomm) 1 726.00   
			 UK Trade and Investment 1 726.00   
			  
			  Devolved Administrations 
			 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service 1 726.00   
			 Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory 1 726.00   
			 Northern Ireland Court Service 2 1,452.00   
			 Registers of Scotland 1 1,149.00   
			 Scottish Environment Protection Agency 2 1,452.00   
			 Scottish Executive 1 726.00   2 1,960.00   17 4,356.00   
			 Scottish Public Pensions Agency 1 980.00   
			 The Scottish Parliament 1 726.00   
			 Welsh Assembly Government 3 3,278.00   
			  
			  Non-departmental public bodies 
			 Health and Safety Executive   2 2,160.00 1 1,149.00   2 1,452.00   
			 Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner 1 1,149.00   
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency 1 726.00   
			 Youth Justice Board for England and Wales 2 1,452.00   
			 Grand total 45 31,944.00 8 7,560.00 37 39,843.00 7 7,805.00 124 82,038.00 15 22,425.00 
			  Key:  (f) Working AssertivelyAAW  (e) Balancing Work/Life RealitiesAWLB  (d) Managing your ConfidenceCONF  (c) Counselling Skills for the WorkplaceCOUN  (a) Influencing with IntegrityIIS  (b) Emotional IntelligencePEP3

Genetics: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of cases resulting in conviction secured to date in which evidence based on DNA profiles from the national DNA database was used  (a) of those without a previous conviction and  (b) not found at the scene of a crime.

Jacqui Smith: In relation to part  (a), information on the number of crimes resulting in convictions in which DNA subject sample profiles on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) taken from persons with no previous convictions were a contributory factor is not collected centrally.
	In relation to part  (b), all detected crimes, in which a DNA match played a part in solving the crime, would involve a match between a subject sample profile (taken from an arrested person) and a crime scene sample profile believed to have been left by the offender at the scene of a crime.

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, what further checks UK Border Agency staff undertook to ascertain whether those individuals who left the domestic arrivals area prior to the error being identified presented a security risk.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 June 2008
	On each of the five occasions where international passengers were misdirected, the UK Border Agency was immediately notified and took appropriate remedial action. All of the incidents were a result of errors made by either British Airways or the British Airports Authority staff. UKBA staff worked closely with the airport operator to redirect passengers to the appropriate area in order to complete all of the necessary immigration checks. This was successful on two occasions, although on the other three, a number of passengers had already left the domestic area.
	In these instances, further checks were made which satisfied UKBA staff that the individuals who had entered did not present a known risk to UK security. These checks included cross checking the details of all those who had been on board the aircraft against Home Office databases. In addition, passengers' details were also passed on to the Metropolitan Police Service who carried out additional security checks.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers found to have employed illegal workers have been  (a) cautioned,  (b) charged and  (c) prosecuted in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008 to date; and, of those in each category, how many were proceeded against for (A) employing illegal workers and (B) facilitating illegal immigrants to remain in the UK by providing employment, food or accommodation.

Liam Byrne: The following action has been taken against employers found to have employed illegal workers under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
	
		
			  Action  January to December 2007  January to 6 June 2008 
			 Cautioned 1 1 
			 Charged 41 46 
			 Criminal prosecutions 35 42 
		
	
	New measures were introduced by the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 and came into effect for those employed on, or after 29 February 2008. There is now a system of civil penalties for employers who employ illegal migrant workers. This is combined with the introduction of a new criminal offence of knowingly employing an illegal migrant worker.
	221 notices of liability have been issued to employers under the civil penalty system in the period 29 February 2008 to 6 June 2008.
	All cases are considered on the individual evidence available. A decision to proceed with prosecution is predicated on evidence that indicates that an employer 'knowingly' employed a migrant worker who had no permission to work or to do the work in question.
	No employers were proceeded against for facilitating illegal immigrants to remain in the United Kingdom by providing employment, food or accommodation.
	This information is derived from provisional local management information which may be subject to change.

Immigration: Latin America

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of Latin American countries were in detention under immigration law in each month since April 2007.

Liam Byrne: Quarterly data are published showing the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. The accompanying table shows the number of Latin American nationals detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at the last Saturday of each quarter since April 2007 up to March 2008, the latest published information.
	Further National Statistics on persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Latin American nationals( 1)  detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at the specified dates( 2,3,4,5) 
			  Detained as at:  Number of detainees 
			 30 June 2007 40 
			 29 September 2007 35 
			 29 December 2007 25 
			 29 March 2008 25 
			 (1) Includes nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. (2) Excluding persons detained in police cells and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers. (3) Due to changes in working practices, these statistics now exclude all persons detained in Prison Service establishments. Figures are not directly comparable with those prior to June 2006. (4) Figures include dependants. (5) Figures rounded to the nearest five.

Immigration: Latin America

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were removed under immigration laws to  (a) Colombia,  (b) Ecuador,  (c) Bolivia and  (d) Peru in (i) each month since April 2007 and (ii) (A) 2006-07, (B) 2005-06 and (C) 2004-05.

Liam Byrne: The accompanying tables show the number of persons removed or departing voluntarily to Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru during the periods specified and up to March 2008, the latest published information.
	Further National Statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
	
		
			  Persons removed or departing voluntarily( 1,2)  from the UK, to Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru during 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07( 3) 
			  Number of removals 
			  Destination( 4)  2004-05  2005-06( 5)  2006-07( 5) 
			 Colombia 350 380 370 
			 Ecuador 265 240 215 
			 Bolivia 455 360 305 
			 Peru 45 40 45 
			 (1) Includes persons departing voluntarily following enforcement action initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. (2) Since January 2005, includes persons who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (3) Figures rounded to the nearest five. (4) Destination as recorded on source database. (5) Provisional figures. 
		
	
	
		
			  Persons removed or departing voluntarily( 1)  from the UK, to Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru by month during 2007-08( 2) 
			  Number of removals 
			   Destination( 3) 
			   Colombia  Ecuador  Bolivia  Peru 
			 April 2007 25 15 15 * 
			 May 2007 25 20 25 * 
			 June 2007 30 10 25 * 
			 July 2007 20 25 35  
			 August 2007 30 15 50 5 
			 September 2007 25 20 30 * 
			 October 2007 20 10 35 5 
			 November 2007 35 10 40 * 
			 December 2007 15 10 50 5 
			 January 2008 20 10 35 * 
			 February 2008 10 15 35 5 
			 March 2008 20 5 35 * 
			 2007-08 270 170 415 25 
			 (1) Includes persons departing voluntarily following enforcement action initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (2) Figures rounded to the nearest five ('' = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (3) Destination as recorded on source database.

Internet

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisation is responsible for regulating  (a) Bebo,  (b) YouTube and  (c) other internet sites; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 7 July 2008
	While the internet is a worldwide medium, it is subject to UK law and the UK Government policy is that what is illegal offline is illegal online. As such the internet is subject to the same laws as other media.
	The Government's policy in relation to the development of the internet is not to place general monitoring obligations or regulation on those who provide internet services, host websites etc., but rather to allow self-regulation.
	In practice, there are excellent working relationships with the internet industry, and they have developed strong working practices and guidelines relating to services they offer and content they host. Where a UK ISP is advisedusually by law enforcementthat they are hosting material which is illegal, they have an excellent record in removing it.
	Most recently the Home Secretary's Taskforce on Online Child Protection published the Good Practice Guidance for the Providers of Social Networking and Other Interactive Services 2008. This was produced by members of the Taskforce including representatives from social networking sites. This Guidance asks companies to consider a risk assessment approach to their services and considering putting in place a range of potential safeguards where risks to children do occur. It also identifies to both the providers of interactive services and parents, teachers and carers how these sites can be used to exploit children and gives advice on how to keep children safe while using social networking tools.
	In September 2007, the Prime Minister announced a review into the risk to children of exposure to harmful or inappropriate content in video games and online. The review also assessed the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to help prevent children from being exposed to such material and help parents understand and manage the risks of access to inappropriate content.
	Dr. Tanya Byron conducted this review and reported to Ministers in March 2008. The Government have accepted all of the recommendations arising from the review and are currently planning for their implementation. The Government are actively involved in developing the UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), which will replace the Home Secretary's Taskforce.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire dated 16th May 2008, about the UK residency requirement on foreign domiciliary aid workers (Reference: M8887/8).

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 July 2008
	 The Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 9 July 2008.

Passports: Lost Property

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports were reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in the last year for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: In 2007, the Identity and Passport Service processed 303,572 reports of lost and stolen passports. There were 251,751 reports of lost passports, 41,393 stolen with the balance of 10,428 in the 'other' category. 'Other' includes passports reported as damaged or destroyed.

Schengen Agreement: Borders

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what obligations there are on the UK under the Schengen Borders Code.

Liam Byrne: We do not participate in the immigration aspects of the Schengen Acquis. The Schengen Border Code does not therefore apply to the UK. We believe that maintaining our national frontier controls is the most effective way to maintain border security.

Terrorism: Travel Restrictions

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to refuse entry to any foreign or Commonwealth citizen seeking to enter the UK who is known to have publicly praised one of the 7(th) July bombers for their actions in those attacks.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 July 2008
	Existing policy provides that those who engage in the glorification or justification of terrorist violence will normally be excluded from the UK on the basis that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good. Such activities fall within the scope of the list of unacceptable behaviours announced by the then Home Secretary in the wake of the July 2005 bombings. The unacceptable behaviours list made clear the sort of activities that are likely to lead to a person's exclusion or deportation from the UK.

Travel Restrictions: al Qaeda

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the EU flight ban on individuals associated with al-Qaeda has been invoked.

Liam Byrne: We do not collect this information centrally. The details of those subject to the EU travel ban are placed on the relevant UK watch lists to prevent a named individual from travelling to, entering or transiting the UK.

Waterside Court

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment was made of the likely impact of the flood plain of the River Aire on Waterside Court short-term holding facility before it was built; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Waterside Court was originally a water mill built over the River Aire in the 17(th) century and is a grade II listed building. The Home Office only took up leased occupation of a refurbished Waterside Court on 19 May 2000 and our knowledge of any flood assessment(s) undertaken prior to our occupation is limited.

Waterside Court

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to prevent the re-flooding of Waterside Court short-term holding facility on Kirkstall Road by the River Aire; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office acquired a demountable flood protection barrier system in 2001, and the building also has permanent waterproofing to cover areas not protected by the barrier. The Home Office has invested in the ongoing maintenance of these defences. The Home Office monitors the Environmental Agency website for flood warnings and operates the manual barrier on the basis of these. The barrier has been put in place once during the last 12 months.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Solicitor-General how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of the Attorney-General's Office in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Vera Baird: In the last year, there have been 53 flights at a cost of 21,296.50 (excluding VAT).

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what IT contracts the Law Officers' Department and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General's Office, Serious Fraud Office and Revenue Customs and Prosecutions office have entered into contracts with Sungard Public Services.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department have entered into 86 IT contracts:
	22 contracts for the support and maintenance of hardware;
	43 contracts for the support and maintenance of software; and
	21 contracts for the support and maintenance of communication services.
	The Crown Prosecution Service has entered into five IT contracts (HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate are also included under these contracts):
	1 contract for the support of an HR and Payroll system;
	1 contract for a web-based recruitment system; and
	3 contracts under the Office for Government Commerce Framework Agreement for the provision of and electronic ordering system, an online tendering system and an intranet application.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Solicitor General how many permanent staff within the Attorney-General's Office are classed as  (a) staff without posts and  (b) part of a people action team.

Vera Baird: None.

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within her Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Vera Baird: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles.
	Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor General how much was spent by the Law Officers' Departments on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Vera Baird: The figures are broken down by Department and year in the following table:
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			   Magazines  Newspapers  Other publications  Magazines  Newspapers  Other publications 
			 Attorney-General's Office (1)59,108.09 6,304.22  (1)65,216.80 5,911.24  
			 Crown Prosecution Service (2)269,301.69 (2)182,865.20 
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department (1)240,873.12 4,579.55  (1)578,001.78 6,574.09  
			 Serious Fraud Office 7,508 2,085.25 51,055 5,944 2,022.05 116,933 
			 Revenue Customs and Prosecutions Office (2)11,945.53 (2)9,280.95 
			 HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (2)14,885.23 (2)12,539.39 
			 (1) Figure includes other publications and could be broken down only at a disproportionate cost. (2) Figure could not be broken down into separate categories without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Solicitor-General how many reviews of regulation the Attorney-General's Office has conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Vera Baird: None.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Solicitor-General how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in the Attorney-General's Office in the last 24 months.

Vera Baird: None have been reported stolen, a small number have been lost but records are not kept.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Solicitor-General to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels the Attorney-General's Office subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Vera Baird: The office subscribes to parliamentary television which does not incur any costs.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Solicitor-General how much fish was procured by her Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Vera Baird: Detailed records are not kept on the procurement of fish and the information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Harassment

John Hayes: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of  (a) sexual and  (b) racial harassment have been brought against her Department in each year since 1997; and what sum of payments resulted from such cases in each year.

Vera Baird: There have been less than five sexual and racial harassment cases brought against the Law Officer's departments, therefore this information cannot be provided on grounds of confidentiality.

Lotfi Raissi

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps are being taken by the Law Officers in response to the findings of misconduct by the Crown Prosecution Service in the Court of Appeal judgment in Raissi v Secretary of State for the Home Department; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of R (ex parte Lotfi Raissi)  v. Secretary of State for the Home Department concerned three issues:
	whether, as a matter of interpretation, the ex gratia scheme for the payment of compensation to persons who have lost their liberty as the result of a miscarriage of justice is capable of applying to detention in the context of extradition proceedings;
	if it is, whether there is evidence of serious default on the part of the Metropolitan Police and/or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which the Secretary of State ought to consider; and
	whether, if an application by Mr. Raissi for compensation failed under the serious default provision, the circumstances of the case are so exceptional that the Secretary of State ought to reconsider the application under the second paragraph of the scheme.
	The Court of Appeal held that the scheme does apply to detention in the context of extradition proceedings. Further, it held that there was evidence to suggest that the Metropolitan Police and the CPS were responsible for serious defaults. The court made no findings of misconduct. Its judgment, on this point, was limited to considering whether there was evidence that the Secretary of State ought to consider; and it emphasised that it reached no firm conclusions on the issue of serious default, as neither the Metropolitan Police nor the CPS was represented before the court and in any event, findings of fact in relation to any alleged serious default are for the Secretary of State.
	The Attorney-General and I have discussed the Court of Appeal's judgment with the Director of Public Prosecutions. We must await the outcome of any further litigation; but pending that, the Director has asked his Principal Legal Advisor to conduct an internal review of the matters raised by the Court of Appeal's judgment and to advise him accordingly, with any such recommendations as he considers to be appropriate.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Solicitor-General how many copies of the  Morning Star publication the Law Officer's Department subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Vera Baird: None of the Law Officer's departments subscribe to this publication.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma: Ethnic Groups

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese government on the assassination of Padoh Mahn Sha, Secretary General of the Karen National Union.

Meg Munn: We have not formally discussed the assassination of Padoh Mahn Sha on 14 February 2008 with the Burmese regime. The case is still under investigation by the Thai police.

Cuba: Political Prisoners

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the government of Cuba on detention of political prisoners.

Meg Munn: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and Officials raise the continuing detention of political prisoners in Cuba with representatives of the Cuban government, including the Cuban ambassador, on a regular basis. I raised the issue with Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Eumelio Caballero on 3 April and with the Cuban ambassador on 11 June.
	Last month the EU lifted the suspended diplomatic measures that were imposed on Cuba following the arrest of 75 dissidents in 2003. This decision was taken as a means of facilitating a political dialogue between the EU and Cuba, including on human rights.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Meg Munn: Of the buildings occupied by Foreign and Commonwealth Office agencies and non-departmental public bodies, only the lease on the property occupied by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in London is due for renewal in the next four years.
	Central records are not held by the British Council and it would incur disproportionate cost to provide the information requested.

Departmental Coordination: Dept for International Development

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in delivering the FCO-DfID Shared Service Delivery plan objectives of increasing the proportion of  (a) co-located offices by over 10 per cent. and  (b) Department for International Development staff in co-located offices by over 25 per cent. by the end of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 period.

David Miliband: There has been a small increase (4 per cent.) in the number of staff from the Department for International Development (DFID) in co-located offices since the shared service delivery plan was developed in October 2006.
	The overall number of co-located offices has reduced, primarily as a result of restructuring which has involved the closure of DFID offices in several countries. However, additional co-locations have taken place at our missions in Harare, Lilongwe, Georgetown and Kampala. We also plan to co-locate at Abuja, Bridgetown, Delhi, Dhaka, Kabul and Jerusalem over the course of the current comprehensive spending review period. We are currently co-located in a total of 33 sites.

Departmental Coordination: Dept for International Development

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries his Department shares offices with the Department for International Development; and how many staff from each department work at each office.

David Miliband: The following table shows in which countries the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) shares offices with the Department for International Development (DFID) and how many UK based and local staff currently work at each office:
	
		
			  Country  FCO staff  DFID staff 
			 Afghanistan 112 37 
			 Albania 27 2 
			 Angola 34 3 
			 Armenia 19 3 
			 Bosnia 28 6 
			 Belgium (Brussels UKREP) 150 2 
			 Burma 44 8 
			 Burundi 3 6 
			 Cambodia 27 17 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 37 38 
			 Ethiopia 174 53 
			 Georgia 29 3 
			 Guyana 22 8 
			 Indonesia 61 12 
			 Iraq 60 6 
			 Jamaica 77 5 
			 Kenya (and Somalia) 172 47 
			 Malawi 44 58 
			 Moldova 21 3 
			 Nigeria 121 2 
			 Pakistan 269 53 
			 Russia 140 1 
			 Rwanda 25 28 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 60 5 
			 Sri Lanka 88 2 
			 Tanzania 33 28 
			 Thailand 109 1 
			 Tajikistan 24 7 
			 Uganda 74 44 
			 Vietnam 19 28 
			 Zambia 39 29 
			 Zimbabwe 89 30 
			 Yemen 144 8 
			 Total 2,375 583

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff in his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Meg Munn: The following proportion of staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) did not receive the maximum bonus possible under the bonus scheme applying to them in each of the last two years:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 Grades below the senior management structure (SMS) 94 95 
			 SMS 88 76 
		
	
	The FCO uses non-consolidated, non-pensionable, performance-related bonuses to encourage high performance. We pay annual bonuses to staff in the grades below senior managers based on appraisal evidence of annual performance. The highest rating and bonus award is applicable where performance significantly exceeds a challenging performance agreement to a greater extent than considered possible at the start of the appraisal period, and may have radically transformed delivery of policy and/or services.
	Variable pay (bonus) arrangements for staff in the SMS/senior civil service (SCS) follow a framework set for Whitehall Departments by the Cabinet Office. We use variable pay for SMS/SCS staff to reward excellent individual performance and achievement during the year. Variable pay decisions are based on a judgment by pay committees of what an individual has achieved in comparison with peers. Those who have delivered the best results, and shown real leadership in doing so, receive the biggest bonuses. Those who have delivered least receive nothing. Whitehall Departments were authorised to spend a sum equivalent to 7.6 per cent. of their SMS pay budget on non-consolidated variable pay for senior staff in 2007 and 8.6 per cent. in 2008. 25 per cent. of senior staff will not receive a bonus in 2008.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is an equal opportunities employer. Staff are recruited in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Code and the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991. Interchange opportunities with other Government Departments are advertised on a Whitehall-wide basis. Secondments from outside the civil service into the FCO promote the exchange of wider ideas and experience.
	For the duration of the loan period, staff on secondment or interchange to the FCO are subject to FCO terms and conditions of service as set out in the Home Service Regulations. As such, the FCO's Dignity at Work policy is applicable to secondees and those on interchange. We listen to their concerns through the Secondees Group, a support network that was set up by and consists of FCO employees who are on loan or seconded from other Government Departments or other organisations.

EU Defence Policy

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the French government has proposed a military ERASMUS programme for the exchange of members of EU member states' armed forces.

Jim Murphy: The French Government have made a proposal for officer exchanges between EU member states. They have made clear that any scheme would be voluntary and impose no obligations on any member state. We welcome this proposal as a means to increase interoperability amongst EU member states.

Kurds: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to convene a peace conference to bring together representatives of Kurdistan, Turkey, Armenia and Iraq.

Kim Howells: We are in frequent contact with the Governments of Iraq, Armenia and Turkey and the Kurdistan regional government in Iraq and encourage them to strengthen their bilateral relationships and resolve any disputes they have through dialogue. We have no plans to convene or support a conference specifically for these countries.

Laos: Religious Freedom

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Laos on the treatment of Christians in that country.

Meg Munn: We are aware of reports of the detention and mistreatment of Christians in Laos. Our ambassador in Bangkok, who is accredited to Laos, raised the issue of human rights with the authorities when he visited that country from 8-10 April.
	The Like-Minded Group (a group of resident embassies and international organisations) have regular meetings in Vientiane that discuss human rights issues in Laos and the EU Commission held a Human Rights working group with the Lao government from 2-3 March.
	We condemn all instances of violence and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith or belief, wherever they happen or whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.
	We will continue to raise our concerns with the Lao authorities as and when the opportunity arises.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of relations between Hezbollah and  (a) Hamas,  (b) Islamic Jihad and  (c) the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; what recent discussions he has had with the government of the State of Israel on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Hezbollah's military wing provides support to rejectionist groups in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 2 July my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary laid an order in Parliament which, if approved, will proscribe the entirety of Hezbollah's military wing. Proscription will not affect the political, social and humanitarian role Hezbollah plays in Lebanon, but it sends out a clear message that we condemn Hezbollah's violence and support for terrorism carried out by its military wing.
	We have regular discussions with the Israeli authorities, which address this issue among many others.

Pakistan: BBC

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made by the BBC World Service with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for control of content of re-broadcast BBC material in Pakistan; what level of Ministerial consent was required for this arrangement; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: BBC World Service content, including what is re-broadcast by partners on FM frequencies, conforms only to BBC editorial values and guidelines. The BBC World Service has total editorial control over its programming whether that programming is broadcast directly by it on short wave or medium wave or via third party distribution arrangements. This is at the core to any agreement with any partner station.
	The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority does not regulate the BBC World Service. It regulates the stations which are licence holders in Pakistan. The BBC World Service does not hold a licence. The BBC World Service is a content supplier in Pakistan in the same way as it supplies content to its partners throughout the world.
	No ministerial agreement was required for this arrangement as none is required in the Broadcasting Agreement, between the BBC World Service and the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Russia: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the government of Russia on  (a) anti-semitism and  (b) anti-semitic (i) organisations and (ii) publications in Russia; what response was received; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of levels of anti-semitism in Russia; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We have concerns about human rights and political freedoms in Russia, including the reported rise in violent attacks on ethnic and religious minorities. An outline of our assessment can be found in the 2007 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights Annual Report.
	We hold annual bilateral human rights discussions with Russia. These were last held in January 2007 and they included discussion on the rights of ethnic and religious minorities: The next meeting is planned for later this year. We also raise our concerns through the EU/Russia human rights consultations, which were last held in April 2008. At the consultations, the EU raised a number of concerns related to specific human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Russian Federation including the rights of persons belonging to minorities and combating racism and xenophobia. We welcome President Medvedev's condemnation of any ethnic or religious enmity in his speech on 9 May.
	The FCO supports projects in Russia which promote human rights, including strengthening state and civil society capacity to combat religious and ethnic discrimination. Last year, we spent 15,000 on such projects (out of a total spend of 700,000 to support human rights, good governance and reform in Russia).
	The UK is committed to combating anti-Semitism and all forms of racism. At the 2007 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, held in Warsaw from 24 September to 5 October 2007, we were the first country to report in detail on how we have implemented the Berlin Declaration on Combating Anti-Semitism. We urged other participating states of the OSCE to do likewise. We will continue to work with our OSCE partners, including Russia, on intensifying efforts to combat anti-Semitism.

Russia: Politics and Government

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in South Ossetia.

Jim Murphy: Recently, there has been a serious escalation of tension in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone. Three incidents have contributed to this: an explosion which killed the head of the de facto South Ossetian Militia; an attack on the convoy carrying the head of the Georgian-backed South Ossetian provisional administration; and a mortar attack on Tskhinvali, the main town of South Ossetia. There have been reports of casualties on both the Georgian and Ossetian sides.
	The EU presidency has issued a statement, which we support, expressing concern over the incidents and has appealed to both sides for resumption of dialogue and restraint. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Transparency International: Finance

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department provided to Transparency International in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007; and how much of such funding was to fund projects in Venezuela.

Kim Howells: Globally, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided the following amounts to Transparency International and their local partner organisations for specific anti-corruption projects in 2005-07:
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2005-06 167,149 
			 2006-07 312,487 
			 2007-08 466,530 
		
	
	Our embassies around the global network will also have provided limited funds to local Transparency International partners for micro-projects on anti-corruption, not captured in these amounts.
	In Venezuela, the FCO has supported a successful project on institutional capacity building against corruption, money laundering and organised crime for administrators of justice. While Transparencia Venezuela generated the idea, the training is run by the Caracas Metropolitan University. The course offers a diploma for professionals on key principles of how to work against money laundering and other financial crime, which has been endorsed by the national council of universities. Participants in the diploma course have come from both the private and public sector, including private banks, the Venezuelan Ombudsman's office, the office of the prosecutor general, the Venezuelan Supreme Court and other courts. FCO support for this project is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2005-06 Nil 
			 2006-07 16,075 
			 2007-08 19,310 
			 2008-09 8,243

USA: Bank Services

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement of 25 October 2007,  Official Report, column 510, on the Office of Foreign Assets Control List, when the Government will approve the set of principles that will guide the Government's intervention in extraterritoriality cases referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his Department.

Meg Munn: Discussions in Government on this issue are still ongoing.

Zimbabwe: Asylum

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has held in South Africa with refugees from Zimbabwe; what assessment he has made of the safety of Zimbabwe as a country to which asylum seekers may be returned; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary took the opportunity of his visit to South Africa to meet some of the 2,000 refugees who had taken refuge at the Central Methodist church in Johannesburg on 6 July. He listened to a number of traumatic tales from victims of the violence, including from those whose relatives had been killed and orphans as young as 12 years of age who had fled hundreds of miles to seek refuge in Johannesburg.
	The situation in Zimbabwe is kept under constant review. Asylum claims are considered on a case by case basis. We have no current plans to enforce returns of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Crisis Loans

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there are any circumstances in which 100 per cent. benefit payments can be appropriated by Jobcentre Plus for repayment of  (a) a crisis loan and  (b) a budget loan when the recipient has defaulted on repayments; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: No; there are no circumstances in which 100 per cent. of an applicant's benefit payments can be taken by Jobcentre Plus for repayment of a Social Fund loan.

Crisis Loans: Telephone Services

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in implementing the 0800 crisis loan number; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Work has asked me to respond to your question on what progress has been made in implementing the 0800 crisis loan number. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Centralisation of Crisis Loans into Benefit Delivery Centres using 0800 numbers began in September 2006 and, with the exception of some parts of London, is now complete. Those parts of London not yet on the new system will switch over when we have sufficient numbers of Decision Makers in place to meet the increased demand.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

James Plaskitt: The euro changeover plan for the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies received its last full update in September 2004. We are currently updating this plan, and expect it to be completed later this year.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new claims for housing benefit were received in each London local authority in the most recent year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of new housing benefit claims received by London local authorities in 2007-08 
			   Thousand 
			 Barking 4,976 
			 Barnet 8,635 
			 Bexley 3,474 
			 Brent 8,008 
			 Bromley 3,422 
			 Camden 4,944 
			 City of London 406 
			 Croydon 4,612 
			 Ealing 8,877 
			 Enfield 7,487 
			 Greenwich 5,720 
			 Hackney 10,048 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,437 
			 Haringey 12,875 
			 Harrow 2,055 
			 Havering 2,968 
			 Hillingdon 6,599 
			 Hounslow 5,951 
			 Islington 8,287 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,151 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,822 
			 Lambeth 11,435 
			 Lewisham 10,458 
			 Merton 4,430 
			 Newham 7,624 
			 Redbridge 5,831 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,653 
			 Southwark 6,941 
			 Sutton 3,390 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,138 
			 Waltham Forest 6,934 
			 Wandsworth 5,174 
			 Westminster 4,254 
			  Notes: 1. The total number of new housing benefit claims includes successful, unsuccessful, defective and withdrawn claims. 2. The information is reported performance from local authorities.

Housing: Low Incomes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will reconsider his decision to apply local housing allowance to claimants who are required to change address; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will amend the arrangements for local housing allowance to make a distinction between those persons who are required by unforeseen circumstances to change address and those who choose to change address; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: No; it was always our intention to apply the local housing allowance to all customers who move address. As from 7 April 2008, all customers who make a new claim for housing benefit, or move address in the deregulated private rented sector have their claims assessed according to local housing allowance rules. This applies regardless of the reason for the change of address.

Incapacity Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of people receiving incapacity benefit (IB) in each parliamentary constituency; how many people made successful applications for IB in each constituency in 2007; and how many children are living in households dependent on IB in each London constituency.

Stephen Timms: The available information for incapacity benefits claimants and on-flows has been placed in the Library.
	For the available information about children, I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1562W.

Jobcentres: Closures

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many closures of Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus offices are planned; and in which locations;
	(2)  which Jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus offices closed in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions seeking details of planned closures of Jobcentre Plus offices by location, and how many Jobcentre Plus offices were closed in each year since 1997. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I attach a list of Jobcentre Plus offices which are currently open to the public and which we plan to close. In each case the planned closure has been approved by the Minister of State following consultation. Our approach to closure of a customer-facing Jobcentre takes into account a range of issues, for example, the impact closure may have on customer service and whether the work and staff can be relocated. When we are looking to withdraw our services from a location we are committed to full consultation with our customers, partner organisations, Trade Unions, staff, and local Members of Parliament.
	I am only able to provide information on the number of Jobcentre Plus offices closed since April 2002, when Jobcentre Plus was created by the merger of the former Employment Service and Benefits Agency. A list of the Jobcentre Plus offices closed in each year since April 2002 is attached and a copy will be placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Customer facing Jobcentre Plus offices planned for closure 
			  Government office region  District  Site name  Site address 
			 East of England Norfolk Downham Market 6 High Street, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9JX 
			 East of England Norfolk Hunstanton 2-4 Northgate Precinct, Hunstanton, PE36 6BG 
			 East of England Norfolk Wymondham 27 Fairland Street, Wymondham, NR18 OAW 
			 London South London Wimbledon 153-157 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1NE 
			 North West Cumbria Cockermouth 43 Station Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9QF 
			 North West Cumbria Keswick Unit 1, Packhorse Court, Keswick, CA12 5JB 
			 North West Cumbria Millom Government Buildings, St. Georges Road, Millom, LA18 5DN 
			 North West Cumbria Ulverston Glynis House, 25-27 Brogden Street, Ulverston, LA12 7AS 
			 South East Hampshire and IoW Portsmouth 27 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth 
			 South East Hampshire and IoW Portsmouth Grd 1(st) and 2(nd) Floors, Lake Road, Portsmouth 
			 South East Hampshire and IoW Portsmouth North Kingston House, 227-229 Kingston Road, Portsmouth, P02 7ER

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were receiving jobseekers allowance in each month since 2005, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information has been placed in the Library.

Medical Certificates

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of sick notes issued by doctors in each of the last five years, broken down by region.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available.

Pathways to Work: Contracts

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he considered a departmental in-house bid following the entry into administration of the Pathways to Work contractor Instant Muscle.

Stephen Timms: No. We have always been clear that in order to benefit from the experience of the private and voluntary sectors in providing help to incapacity benefit claimants, delivery of Pathways to Work in phases two and three of the national roll out was to be provider led. Operational arrangements had been made on this basis both by providers and by Jobcentre Plus. The entry into administration of the chosen contractor did not affect these decisions or our ability to deliver Pathways to Work to customers in the relevant geographical areas.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of pensioner couples one or both of whom are aged 85 years or over entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit or local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit or local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of single pensioners of each sex aged 85 years or over entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit or local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit or local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of pensioner couples, where one or both were aged 85 years or over and living in poverty who were entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of single pensioners aged 60 to 75 years or over were entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance,  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, broken down by sex, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what estimates his Department has made of the number and proportion of single pensioners aged 60 to 75 years or over were living on incomes below 60 per cent. of the median income level and who were entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, broken down by sex, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  how many and what proportion of pensioner couples, where one or both are aged 60 to 75 years old, who are entitled to, but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what estimates the Department has made of the number and proportion of single pensioners aged 75 to 85 years old, who are living in poverty and who are entitled to, but are not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, broken down by sex, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  how many and what proportion of single pensioners aged 75 to 85 years old who are entitled to, but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, broken down by sex in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  what estimate the Department has made of the number and proportion of pensioner couples, where one or both are aged 75 to 85 years old, who are living in poverty and who are entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  how many and what proportion of pensioner couples, where one or both are aged 75 to 85 years old, who are entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit,  (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of pensioner couples, where one or both are aged 60 to 75 years old, who are living in poverty and who are entitled to but not claiming  (a) guarantee credit and council tax benefit , (b) guarantee credit and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (c) guarantee credit, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Estimates of the numbers of entitled non-recipients of means-tested benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income based) are published in the report Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006-07.
	The published estimates consider each benefit in isolation. I regret that no estimates are available for the numbers of people who are entitled to but not receiving combinations of income-related benefits.

Social Fund: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the administrative costs of paying  (a) crisis loans,  (b) budgeting loans and  (c) community care grants were in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your question on what the administrative costs of paying (a) crisis loans, (b) budgeting loans and (c) community care grants were in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Specific information regarding the administrative costs of paying Community Care Grants is not available prior to 2006/07. The available information for the administrative costs for paying Crisis Loans, Budgeting Loans and Community Care Grants is in the following table. The increase in the administrative costs for paying Crisis loans in 2007/08, was due to a rise in applications for Crisis Loans that year.
	
		
			  Administrative costs of paying Crisis Loans, Budgeting Loans and Community Care Grants 
			   million 
			   Crisis Loans  Budgeting Loans  Community Care Grants 
			 2003/04 21.5 26.2 n/a 
			 2004/05 21.3 23 n/a 
			 2005/06 24 24.5 n/a 
			 2006/07 24 21.9 16.8 
			 2007/08 38.9 15.3 16.1

Social Security Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the value of  (a) income support and  (b) jobseekers allowance as a percentage of forecast (i) mean and (ii) median earnings in each year until 2012;
	(2)  what  (a) income support,  (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) child benefit was as a percentage of (i) mean and (ii) median earnings in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables. The percentage levels of benefits for future years will depend upon future movements in earning levels, uprating of benefits, changes in the composition of claimants' characteristics, and policy changes.
	
		
			  Average weekly amount of income support (IS), jobseeker's allowance (JSA) child benefit (CHB) as a percentage of mean earnings 
			  Percentage 
			  Quarter ending  May each year  IS (excluding minimum income guarantee (MIG)  JSA  CHB per child (including premiums)  CHB per family (including premiums) 
			 1998 18.1 13.2   
			 1999 17.9 12.9 3.0 5.5 
			 2000 18.3 12.9 3.0 5.5 
			 2001 18.7 12.4 3.0 5.3 
			 2002 17.9 11.8 2.9 5.1 
			 2003 18.6 11.7   
			 2004 18.2 11.1   
			 2005 16.6 10.2   
			 2006 15.5 9.8   
			 2007 14.9 9.9

Social Security Benefits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 7-8W, on social security benefits, what assumptions about  (a) employment levels and  (b) levels of jobseeker's allowance claims underpinned the estimates for 2009-10 of on-flows on to (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) employment support allowance and (iii) income support on grounds of incapacity.

James Plaskitt: Forecasts of on-flows to incapacity benefit, employment support allowance and income support on the grounds of incapacity incorporate, at the time of production, the latest available evidence on past trends, announced future policies and operational changes. There is no explicit link made to assumptions about the employment level and the level of jobseeker's allowance claims although the level of inflows (on to incapacity benefit, employment support allowance and income support on grounds of incapacity) are broadly consistent with Treasury planning assumptions about the level of jobseeker's allowance claims.

Social Security Benefits: Polygamy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the annual cost of allowing benefit payments to polygamous families for each additional wife in line with current guidelines on income support.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available from which to make such an estimate.

Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls were made to benefit delivery centres in each year since their inception, broken down by category of call; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your question on how many calls were made to benefit delivery centres in each year since their inception, broken down by category of call; and if he will make a statement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The roll out of Benefit Delivery Centres was completed in March 2008 and comparable information is only available from November 2007. The following table provides the requested information broken down by type of benefit.
	
		
			  Calls to Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery Centres broken down by benefit 
			  Benefit  November 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to June 2008 
			 Bereavement Benefit 61,269 42,562 
			 Crisis Loans 1,558,982 1,050,291 
			 Incapacity? Benefit 2,409,933 1,448,271 
			 Industrial Injuries Disablement? Benefit 5,416 3,494 
			 Income Support 4,723,233 2,794,548 
			 Jobseekers Allowance 2,691,122 1,854,377 
			 Maternity Allowance 24,876 19,713 
			 Social Fund 2,845,410 1,783,806 
			 Total 14,320,241 8,997,062 
			  Source:  Jobcentre Plus Operational Management Information System (OPMIS)

TREASURY

Cambridge Online Learning: KMI Offshore Trust

Eric Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct HM Revenue and Customs to investigate the  (a) VAT treatment and  (b) taxation treatment of the acquisition of the assets of Cambridge Online Learning Ltd by KMI Offshore Trust.

Jane Kennedy: The Government are committed to supporting those who seek to comply with their obligations and to deterring and challenging those who do not.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has responsibility for selecting individual cases for compliance check and it would not be appropriate for it to comment on specific cases.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress has been made in the search for the discs containing data lost by HM Revenue and Customs last year; what the cost to his Department of its investigation has been to date; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to Kieran Poynter's final report, published on 25 June, which can be accessed online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/0/1/poynter_review 250608.pdf
	The cost of the investigation was 473,544.

Consumer Goods: Prices

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of forecasts prepared by his Department for the prices of basic household goods for the next 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The Government publish forecasts for overall consumer prices index (CPI) inflation in the Budget and pre-Budget report. The latest projection was published in Financial Statement and Budget Report 2008 (HC388) on 12 March 2008, and updated forecasts will be published in the pre-Budget report, based on all relevant factors, as normal.

Cost of Living

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to assist vulnerable adults with rising household bills;
	(2)  what recent steps he has taken to assist low income families with financial burdens.

Angela Eagle: Since 1997 the Government have introduced a series of reforms to make work pay and to guarantee minimum weekly incomes for families with and without children. By October 2008, in real terms, families with children in the poorest fifth of the population will be, on average, 4,100 a year better off.
	The working tax credit and the national minimum wage work together to provide a guaranteed income in work. The minimum income guarantee for single people aged 25 or over, and in full-time work, has increased by 30 per cent. in real terms since 1999.
	Tax credits also play a key role in reducing poverty, and have helped to lift 600,000 children out of relative poverty since 1998-99.
	On 13 May 2008, the Chancellor announced further support for low and middle-income families for 2008-09. For the current tax year, income tax personal allowances will be increased by 600 for all tax payers under 65. Around 22 million basic-rate taxpayers will benefit from this change. This not only helps those that lost out from the tax changes, but also middle income families at a time of rising food and oil prices throughout the world.
	This year, adults aged 60 and over will benefit from an additional payment of 50, and those aged over 80 from an additional payment of 100 to be paid alongside the winter fuel payment.

Council Tax: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 818W, on council tax: valuation, what the official name is of the mapping software provided by TENET.

Jane Kennedy: The names given to the software provided to the Valuation Office Agency by TENET are Digital Mapping and the Locality Delineation Tool.

Credit Unions: Post Offices

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to examine the feasibility of offering the public access to credit union services through post offices.

Kitty Ussher: This is a commercial and operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL), the Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL), and individual credit unions. I understand that the Post Office and ABCUL maintain a regular dialogue to explore the opportunities for working together. I also understand that customers of credit union current accounts, which are offered through a commercial arrangement with the Cooperative bank, can already pay in or withdraw cash and make balance inquiries at post offices.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Department does not have information available, but all staff are asked to switch off computer devices and monitors when they leave each day, and there is a screensaver to remind them to do this. While no precise measures are available, this is likely to have contributed to the year on year falls in electricity consumption which have been recorded at 1 Horse Guards road, the main Treasury building, every year for the last five years.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Angela Eagle: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of early retirements in the last two years 
			 HMT 20 
			 OGC 56 
			 OGC Buying Solutions 2 
			 DMO 1

Departmental ICT

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what objectives his Department's Property Benchmarking Service IT project was designed to meet.

Angela Eagle: The Property Benchmarking Service measures the performance of all Government buildings over 500 square metres against efficiency and effectiveness key performance indicators, and benchmarks these against equivalent buildings in both the public and private sectors. The objective is to identify buildings that are not performing well against the benchmark so decisions can be taken about their improvement or disposal.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special advisers have been employed in his Department in each month since January 2007.

Angela Eagle: Four special advisers were employed in the Treasury between January 2007 and June 2007. From July 2007 to August 2007, two special advisers were employed, at which point an additional special adviser was appointed. The number has since remained at three.
	As the Chancellor also appoints members of the Council of Economic Advisers, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1118W, to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban), and to the Treasury's press notice of 2 April 2008.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of staff in his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   HM Treasury  OGCBS  OGC  DMO 
			  2005-06 
			 SCS 100 100 100 100 
			 Grades below SCS 76 71 89 92 
			  2006-07 
			 SCS 100 100 100 100 
			 Grades below SCS 76 70 88 96

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reviews of regulation his Department and its agencies have conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury's Better Regulation Simplification Plan was published in December 2007. It followed recommendations from the 2005 report Less is More to develop a rolling programme of simplification to identify regulations that can be simplified, repealed, reformed and/or consolidated. The 2007 Simplification Plan followed a detailed review of the administrative burdens imposed by all the regulations for which HM Treasury and its agencies are responsible and outlines the progress made so far against the administrative burdens target:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/4/4/simplificationplan 111207.pdf
	HM Treasury's approach is to review regulation in line with the March 2008 White Paper Post-legislative scrutiny: the Government's Approach by the Office of the Leader of the House.
	In addition, the revised impact assessment process has increased the focus on post implementation reviews.

Equity Release

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his policy is on equity release to enable older people to remain in their homes; what recent representations he has received on the issue; what response he gave in each case; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such response;
	(2)  what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation regulates equity release; what changes he plans to initiate to this regime in the next 12 months; what recent representations he has received on the regulatory regime affecting equity release; what response he has made to such representations; if he will place in the Library copies of the representations received and responses given; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many residents of  (a) Southend,  (b) Essex and  (c) England and Wales participated in equity release schemes in each year since 1997;
	(4)  what research his Department  (a) has commissioned,  (b) plans to commission and  (c) has evaluated on consumers' perceptions of government regulation of (i) equity release schemes and (ii) other financial services; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the number of residents of  (a) Southend,  (b) Essex and  (c) England and Wales who were mis-sold a home equity release product in each year since 1997;
	(6)  if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a statutory obligation on mortgage companies to advise borrowers about the risks of using property and equity release as a vehicle for pension investment when they take on a new mortgage; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what steps he has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take to provide information to the public on equity release products; what recent representations he has received about the issue; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to ensure retired people have consumer protection in respect of equity release schemes; what recent representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Since 2004 the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has regulated mortgages, including lifetime mortgages, one type of equity release product. In 2007 the Government extended the scope of FSA regulation to cover home reversion plans (the other main type of equity release product), to help ensure a level regulatory playing field for the equity release market.
	The FSA's regime provides consumers of equity release products with appropriate protections. These include rules on the suitability of equity release products where a firm is giving advice. The FSA's regime also offers means of redress for those consumers who experience problems.
	Equity release products are complex financial products, and consumers considering equity release should seek independent financial advice.
	The Government do not hold data on the number of equity release products sold each year or data on potential mis-selling.
	The FSA conducts regular reviews of its regulation of financial services markets, including the equity release market. Results of these reviews and other research is available at:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/library/index.shtml
	The OFT is currently conducting a market study of sale and rent back arrangements, which share some features with but are distinct from equity release.
	The Chancellor receives representations from a wide range of stakeholders on issues relating to equity release products and other financial services. Locating this material and evaluating whether it might be released would present a disproportionate cost.
	There are no plans to change the regulatory regime for equity release products at this time. The Government keep all legislation under review.

Financial Services: Disclosure of Information

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) financial service providers and  (b) banking institutions have been served with section 20 notices by HM Revenue and Customs since September 2007; and how many individual returns have been received from those institutions to date.

Jane Kennedy: Between 1 September 2007 and 30 April 2008, 151 notices under section 20 of the Taxes Management Act were issued to banking institutions. Information is not available as to how many individual returns have been received and as to how many notices were issued to financial service providers.

Government Departments: Assets

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance  (a) the Office of Government Commerce and  (b) his Department has provided on the use of eBay to sell surplus government stock or assets.

Angela Eagle: OGC has not issued guidance on the use of eBay to dispose of surplus stock or assets. In disposing of assets, Departments are required to seek value for money. The OGC website has a link to the Disposal Services Agency's website; Departments can set up an arrangement for DSA to dispose of assets on their behalf. In addition, OGC has produced guidance on the disposal of surplus property which is also available on its website.

HM Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 905W, how many reported breaches of security have been recorded by HM Revenue and Customs in its offices since 1 October 2007.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC employs 90,000 staff at 600 sites. From 1 October 2007 to 24 June 2008, 1,993 breaches of security were reported, covering a wide range of different circumstances. Such security breaches reflect potential weaknesses reported by staff and not actual thefts or losses.
	This high level of reporting reflects the increased awareness of staff to all forms of security following the child benefit data in loss in October 2007. HMRC takes any security incident report seriously and deals with each one appropriately in accordance with its departmental guidance and procedures.

Identity Cards

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on legal costs in relation to the Office of Government Commerce and the Identity Cards Gateway Review.

Angela Eagle: The legal costs incurred relating to the disclosure of Gateway information in the Identity Cards programme are 81,000 excluding VAT.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 28 May 2008, PO Ref: 3/05867/2008, on the abolition of the 10 pence tax rate.

Jane Kennedy: I have replied to the hon. Member on 12 July 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Exchequer Secretary plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 22 April 2008, on taxation of 4x4 vehicles.

Angela Eagle: There is no record of a letter from the hon. Member dated 22 April. However, I have replied to his letter of 3 June.

Motor Vehicles: Taxation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the approved mileage allowance payment in respect of volunteer drivers to reflect trends in the price of fuel.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 28 April 2008. HMRC allows volunteers to use the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rate for convenience, but it is not mandatory and volunteer drivers can claim tax relief for the full cost of motoring by completing a return, if they wish to do so.

Northern Rock

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the rate at which Northern Rock has repaid loans of public money made to it; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Northern Rock has been paying down the Bank of England loan facilities to date and is expected to continue to do so, as set out in its business plan published in March 2008.
	The outstanding loan facilities as at 31 March 2008 were 24.1 billion as reported in Northern Rock's trading statement published in May 2008. This compares to the outstanding loan facilities as at 31 December 2007 being 26.9 billion as reported in Northern Rock's 2007 annual report and accounts published in March 2008.

Office of Government Commerce

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which  (a) companies and  (b) other organisations have a framework agreement with the Office of Government Commerce.

Angela Eagle: The following link provides an A-Z list of all suppliers with an agreement with OGCbuying.solutions:
	http://online.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk/suppliers/index.html
	In addition, the following suppliers have a framework agreement with core OGC.
	Equifax
	The Nichols Group
	Methods Consulting Ltd.
	Mentis Management Consultants Ltd.
	The Tribal Group
	Actica Consulting Ltd.
	Hitachi Consulting
	AMTEC Consulting plc.
	Inventures
	Oakleigh Consulting Ltd.
	VEGA Group plc.
	Millar Hutchison
	Quo Imus Ltd.
	Malcolm Reading Consultants Ltd.
	Malcolm Hutchinson Associates Ltd.
	Concerto Consulting Ltd.
	Evolve Business Consultancy Ltd.
	Atkins Ltd.
	Quality Business Management Ltd.
	Moorhouse Consulting Ltd.
	Mott MacDonald Ltd.
	Drivers Jonas
	Gardiner and Theobald LLP
	Novos Ltd.
	Procurement Excellence Ltd.
	MAANA Ltd.
	Chimerion Ltd.

Public Sector: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he takes of trends in the consumer price index in determining the timing of reviews of public pay policy; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 30 June 2008
	Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.
	The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles:
	That public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans and consistent with the achievement by the Bank of England of its CPI inflation target of 2 per cent.

Research and Development Tax Credit

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the take-up of research and development tax credits in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the percentage of potential recipients who have received the tax credits; and what the value of such tax credits was in each year.

Angela Eagle: Estimates of the number of claims made for research and development (R and D) tax credits and the cost of support claimed are published as National Statistics on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm
	The research survey conducted in 2005 as part of the evaluation of R and D tax credits collected information on the awareness and take-up of R and D tax credits among R and D companies at that time. The findings are published as Research Report 12 on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/index.htm
	Information on the number of claims for R and D tax credits made by companies in their tax return and the estimated cost of support claimed are published on the HMRC website as National Statistics at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm

Revenue and Customs: Fraud

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff were prosecuted for  (a) attempting to defraud and  (b) defrauding HMRC in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions staff employed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) defrauded HMRC in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of losses to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from fraud committed by staff of HMRC in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many staff in HM Revenue and Customs were responsible for each instance of  (a) fraud and  (b) attempted fraud against the tax credit system in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  on how many occasions staff employed by HM Revenue and Customs  (a) attempted to defraud and  (b) defrauded the tax credit system in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what estimate he has made of the losses to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from fraud committed by staff of HMRC against the tax credit system in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Since April 2005, there have been 30 members of staff, out of around 85,000 employed by HMRC, who have been prosecuted for activity relating to fraud against the Department, 10 of which were prosecutions for fraud committed against the tax credit system. The figures can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Number of staff prosecuted for fraud against HMRC  Number of staff prosecuted specifically for fraud against the tax credit system 
			 2005-06 6 None 
			 2006-07 12 6 
			 2007-08 10 4 
			 2008 to date 2 None 
		
	
	The total estimated loss to HMRC from fraud committed by staff against HMRC is 6 million, of which 1.9 million related specifically to fraud committed against the tax credit system. The figures can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			   Estimated loss from fraud committed by staff against HMRC  Estimated loss from fraud committed by staff against the tax credit system 
			 2005-06 2 0 
			 2006-07 1.7 1.6 
			 2007-08 2.3 0.3 
		
	
	HMRC is committed to the highest levels of integrity and will not tolerate any threats to its perceived trust and level of service in the eyes of the public by its own staff. Robust procedures are in place to identify and combat all types of fraud by staff against HMRC.

Revenue and Customs: Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bonus payments were made to HM Revenue and Customs staff in each of the last three financial years, broken down by  (a) grade and  (b) department.

Jane Kennedy: The information is as follows:
	 Senior civil service
	
		
			 VOA  
			  SCS Grade  Number receiving a bonus  Bonus paid ()  Number receiving a bonus  Bonus paid () 
			  2005-06 
			 SCS1 217 972,000 4 13,000 
			 SCS1A 53 295,700 3 16,500 
			 SCS2 25 172,400 1 5,400 
			 SCS3 9 72,000   
			  
			  2006-07 
			 SCS1 153 1,054,800 4 21,800 
			 SCS1A 36 341,688 1 6,600 
			 SCS2 24 241,100 1 8,900 
			 SCS3 5 6,400   
			  
			  2007-08 
			 SCS1 177 1,358,900 4 23,000 
			 SCS1A 50 455,700 2 22,600 
			 SCS2 22 248,600 1 3,000 
			 SCS3 9 149,700   
		
	
	 Delegated staff
	It has not been possible to break down the data for delegated staff for years 2005-06 and 2006-07 so aggregate figures only are shown for those years.
	
		
			   Performance related bonuses 
			  Delegated grade  Number receiving a bonus  Bonus paid () 
			  2005-06   
			 All staff 35,605 9,500,000 
			
			  2006-07   
			 All staff 37,959 17,200,203 
			
			  2007-08   
			 Admin assistant 8,456 1,423,233 
			 Assistant officer 21,301 4,500,011 
			 Officer 14,656 4,764,152 
			 Higher officer 6,893 3,012,582 
			 Senior officer 2,754 1,603,293 
			 Band T 156 77,419 
			 Grade 7 914 829,740 
			 Grade 6 561 614,643 
			 Other 2 17,621 
			 Total 55,693 16,842,694 
			 The data for delegated staff refers to HMRC staff only as VOA have their own pay structure.

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases have been passed from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) call centres to HMRC offices in Scotland which are currently earmarked for closure in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available. HMRC have announced plans to vacate some buildings in the Edinburgh and Glasgow areas but no decisions have been made regarding the future of other buildings it occupies in Scotland.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) costs and  (b) savings he expects to arise from the closure of HM Revenue and Customs' Brecon office, broken down by budget heading.

Jane Kennedy: Proposals for the HMRC office at Government Buildings, Brecon, along with other individual locations in Wales, were published on 11 June 2008. Those proposals included vacation of the office in Brecon but final decisions are not expected until later this year. Detailed feasibility work as to how much HMRC might expect to save by the proposals is still at an early stage.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many redundancies he expects will take place if HM Revenue and Customs' Brecon (Powys) tax office closes.

Jane Kennedy: No decisions have yet been made in relation to the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) office in Brecon. The future of the Brecon office is currently subject to a programme of consultation and feasibility work. HMRC is committed to avoiding redundancies wherever possible and to helping staff find alternative posts either within the Department or elsewhere.

Taxation: Rebates

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what average annual amount was paid out in tax refunds in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates are available for income tax repayments made to individuals through payable orders and the Bankers Automated Clearing System (BACS) only and are as follows.
	
		
			   Average amount per repayment () 
			   PAYE or savings income  Self assessment 
			 2003-04 320 1,330 
			 2004-05 320 1,270 
			 2005-06 350 1,430 
			 2006-07 380 1,530 
			 2007-08 430 1,480

Valuation Office: Cameras

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 440W, on Valuation Office: cameras, what makes and models of digital camera were purchased.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  April to March:  Quantity 
			 2006-07 (1)101 
			 2007-08 (2)690 
			 (1) These were all Olympus MJU740 models. (2) Of these, 25 were Olympus MJU760 models, 65 were MJU820 models and 600 were Olympus MJU840 models.

Valuation Office: Eurostar

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Weybridge of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 715-6W, on Departmental travel, how many journeys on Eurostar were undertaken by Valuation Office Agency staff in 2006-07; at what cost; and what the purpose was of each such journey.

Jane Kennedy: Six journeys were undertaken by Valuation Office Agency staff on Eurostar in the 2006-07 financial year. The cost of these journeys was 1047. All of the journeys were in connection with formal investigation procedure Article 88(2) of the EEC treaty.

Valuation Office: Video Recordings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's videos entitled  (a) Breaking the Codean aid to understanding Dwellinghouse Coding, referred to on page 29 of the Agency's Council Tax Referencing Manual and  (b) Breaking the Code referred to in Appendix A of the Agency document CTR(E) IA 270303.

Jane Kennedy: This internal training video, which was produced in 1995, is now rarely used and there is limited availability. Additionally it requires redactions to protect the identity of an individual member of staff, which would mean it has to be converted to a modern format. The cost of sourcing the video and undertaking the editing would be disproportionate.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit overpayment notices his Department issued in each of the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of requests to pay back overpaid tax credits (forms TC610) issued by HM Revenue and Customs in each month from June 2007 to May 2008 are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Month  Thousand 
			  2007  
			 June 71 
			 July 91 
			 August 272 
			 September 684 
			 October 151 
			 November 51 
			 December 29 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 22 
			 February 39 
			 March 26 
			 April 21 
			 May 72 
		
	
	The improvements made to the administration of the tax credits system have significantly reduced overpayments, increased the flexibility of the system and provided certainty to families. Overpayments of tax credits have fallen by 700 million since 2005-06 and are now less than half the level they were in 2003-04.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Denis Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credits enquiries his Department received through its 0800 and 0845 numbers in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC operates two 0845 helplines to deal with tax credits inquiries: the tax credits helpline for the general public and an intermediaries helpline. Advisers working on other HMRC helplines may also receive a small number of tax credits inquiries, but these are incidental to their main work, and the number is not recorded.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by the then Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo) on 14 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2137W, on 20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1857W and on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 418W, in which the number of calls received by the tax credits helpline in each month in the last three years to April 2007 has been provided. The following table brings this information up to date for 2007-08.
	
		
			  Tax credits helpline 
			   Number of calls received( 1)  to the nearest thousand 
			 May 2007 2,510 
			 June 2007 2,664 
			 July 2007 3,149 
			 August 2907 2,129 
			 September 2007 2,025 
			 October 2007 1,703 
			 November 2007 1,563 
			 December 2007 1,039 
			 January 2008 1,830 
			 February 2008 1,600 
			 March 2008 1,445 
			 (1 )Where the caller selected an option from the call steering menu and was put in a queue to speak to an adviser 
		
	
	In addition the following table gives details of the number of calls received by the intermediaries helpline in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  Tax credits intermediaries service 
			   Number of calls received to the nearest thousand 
			 2005-06 50 
			 2006-07 59 
			 2007-08 56

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the Central Office of Information who are entitled to travel on a business class or first class airfare on official business are permitted to travel in a cheaper class; and what (i) financial and (ii) other benefits staff are permitted to accrue from any saving.

Phil Hope: As part of recent policy changes designed to reduce its expenditure on official travel, the Cabinet Office requires all air travel by officials to be undertaken by economy class. The only exceptions when premier economy or business class may be used are if the journey time exceeds four hours, or the journey involves an overnight flight, or if no economy seats are available and there are no alternative practical travel options. First class air travel is not permitted. The Central Office of Information's policy on travel for staff is in line with that of the Cabinet Office and civil service guidelines are observed. Travel by Ministers and accompanying staff is governed by the requirements of the ministerial code.
	No financial or other benefits are received by staff.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how frequently the Cabinet Office makes a payment to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund; and whether the calculation of the cost of the offsetting is made by the Cabinet Office or the Offsetting Fund.

Phil Hope: Cabinet Office has made two payments to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund covering the periods 2005-06 and 2006-07. Data is currently being collected for the 2007-08 reporting year and will be available later in the year. The calculation of the cost of the offsetting is made by Cabinet Office using methodology provided by DEFRA.

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within the Cabinet Office's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Tom Watson: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in the Prime Minister's Office in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office. The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many reviews of regulation the Cabinet Office has  (a) conducted and  (b) commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Phil Hope: There has been one review of regulation in the Cabinet Office since July 2007. The Office of the Third Sector (OTS), located in the Cabinet Office, conducted a review of financial thresholds in charities legislation jointly with the Charity Commission, and published de-regulatory proposals for public consultation in December 2007. This fulfilled a commitment made in Parliament during debate on the Charities Bill.
	A summary of consultation responses will be published shortly, together with a plan for implementation.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in all of its processes. We conduct equality monitoring of secondees to the Department as part of our monitoring of the overall work force.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer from the Prime Minister of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 920W, on departmental security, whether records are kept of  (a) the number of lost passes in the Prime Minister's Office and  (b) the reasons for losses.

Edward Miliband: I have nothing further to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 920W.

Departmental Telephones

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contracts the Cabinet Office has with mobile telephone operators for the provision of mobile telephones for  (a) staff and  (b) ministerial use.

Phil Hope: Within the Cabinet Office, mobile phones for official use by staff and Ministers are procured through two contracts with Vodafone, both of which were facilitated through the provisions of an Office of Government Commerce buying solutions (OGCbs) negotiated agreement.

Ecovert FM

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the schedule of charges levied for minor works under the Cabinet Office facilities management contract with Ecovert FM.

Phil Hope: The contract with Ecovert FM currently incorporates a threshold with all works completed under this threshold being paid as part of the fixed fee element of the contract. To obtain details of all such minor works would incur disproportionate cost.

Futurebuilders England Fund

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of expenditure made from the Futurebuilders England Fund.

Phil Hope: Futurebuilders is an active research programme which tests the theory that if unbankable third sector organisations can access investment finance at reasonable cost, they can then compete for and win public service delivery contracts, and that public service delivery will improve as a result. The programme is being independently evaluated by Sheffield Hallam University. Their interim report, published in April 2008, is available on the Sheffield Hallam website at:
	www.shu.ac.uk/cresr.

Office of the Third Sector

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff worked in the Office of the Third Sector in April 2008; and what plans there are for the number of staff which will be in place in April 2009.

Phil Hope: There were 55 staff in post in the Office of the Third Sector as at 30 April 2008. The number of staff in OTS will be 59.5 in April 2009.

Office of the Third Sector

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the estimated cost to the public purse, including office costs, is of employing the five policy officers for the Office of the Third Sector in 2008-09.

Phil Hope: The OTS is in the process of recruiting five additional policy officers. The salary band published in the job advert was from 26,712 to 32,283 (with the potential to rise to 34,612 through performance-related pay).
	All office costs are included in the overall OTS administration budget as published in the Central Government Supply Estimates 2008-09Main Supply Estimates (HC 479), available online at the following address:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./documents/public_ spending_reporting/estimates/estimates_index.cfm
	Any change to the budget will be included in future supplementary estimates.

Pay

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average mean full-time  (a) male earnings and  (b) female earnings were in each local authority area in Great Britain in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: holding answer 10 July 2008
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average mean full-time (a) male earnings and (b) female earnings were in each local authority area in Great Britain in the most recent period for which figures are available. (217939)
	Levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
	Results for Local Authorities can be obtained from Table 7 in the ASHE publications available from the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ashe

Public Participation

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions since 1 June 2007  (a) focus groups have been consulted and  (b) polling surveys have been undertaken; and what subject was in question in each case.

Tom Watson: holding answer 8 July 2008
	For information regarding public participation events, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1142W.
	Information on individual management units conducting polling surveys of the public can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Voluntary Work: Car Allowances

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what ways the Cabinet Office monitors effects on volunteer car and minibus drivers of fluctuations in the price of fuel; and what estimate he has made of the effects of recent rises of the price of fuel on the number of such volunteers.

Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office is committed to addressing barriers to volunteering. Officials from the Office of the Third Sector regularly meet with representatives from the sector to discuss a range of issues.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Asylum

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for International Development to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 596-7W, on Afghanistan: asylum, on how many occasions security for humanitarian agencies delivering aid has been provided by  (a) the International Security Assistance Force and  (b) other forces since January 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Since January 2008, there are no recorded instances in which UK military personnel have provided security for humanitarian agencies delivering aid in Afghanistan, nor are there any recorded instances in which such assistance has been requested.
	We do not hold detailed records on the extent to which the other members of the International Security Assistance Force have been engaged in these activities.

Afghanistan: Pakistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the role of elements of the Pakistani  (a) military and  (b) intelligence services in assisting (i) the Taliban and (ii) other insurgents in Afghanistan since 2001.

Des Browne: We do not comment on the detail of intelligence assessments but the Ministry of Defence continually analyses how the Taliban and other extremists operate in support of the insurgency in Afghanistan. International cooperation is central to our efforts and we welcome the Government of Pakistan's commitment to countering terrorism as a top priority. We continue to press them to ensure that the Afghanistan insurgency cannot draw support from within their own borders.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of ammunition were discharged in Helmand province in each roulement since Operation Herrick 4, broken down by type.

Des Browne: The amount of ammunition used by UK forces in each Operation Herrick roulement since Herrick 4 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Type of nature  Herrick 4 (August 2006 to October 2006)  Herrick 5 (October 2006 to April 2007)  Herrick 6 (April 2007 to October 2007)  Herrick 7 (October 2007 onwards)  Herrick 8 (April 2008 onwards) 
			 7.62mm all natures 210,000 520,000 1,100,000 1,036,000 493,000 
			 5.56mm all natures 235,000 615,000 1,170,000 1,020,000 590,300 
			 0.5 inch all natures 25,000 90,000 185,000 153,000 59,200 
			 12.7mm all natures 2,400 350 0 1,005 840 
			 9mm all natures 10,000 69,000 14,000 57,000 45,000 
			 0.338 200 1,700 4,900 485 272 
			 12 bore shotgun all natures 5 45 660 71 216 
			 105mm all natures 8,600 4,300 12,100 12,430 1,645 
			 30mm Armoured Fighting Vehicle rounds 1,200 5,000 3,600 2,800 0 
			 30mm Attack Helicopter rounds 29,800 21,000 26,500 7,700 15,350 
			  Note: Where applicable, figures have been rounded either to the nearest 10,100 or 1,000.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on providing bottled water to British troops operating in Afghanistan in each of the last 12 months; and how much has been purchased in each month.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table sets out the volume and cost of water supplied to UK troops in Afghanistan over the last year through our enabling contract:
	
		
			   Volume/litre  Value () 
			 July 2007 1,159,776 80,208 
			 August 2007 1,228,899 72,922 
			 September 2007 1,837,818 123,038 
			 October 2007 593,240 44,938 
			 November 2007 421,932 29,421 
			 December 2007 613,102 38,295 
			 January 2008 876,935 56,458 
			 February 2008 749,903 49,566 
			 March 2008 1,212,854 79,072 
			 April 2008 598,706 61,725 
			 May 2008 896,616 76,346 
			 June 2008 751,127 63,707 
		
	
	We have invested around 7 million on the provision of a water bottling plant in Camp Bastion to provide bottled water from natural sources in theatre. This has been running since the end of February 2008, at maximum capacity can produce 50,000 litres of bottled water per day and has produced over 2 million bottles since production began.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means water is supplied to troops operating in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: Water is supplied to UK forces in Afghanistan by a number of methods. Bottled water is provided to troops where water is not available locally from other sources, and it is supplied either through a contract or using the water bottling plant at Camp Bastion. The water is distributed to troops by a range of methods, depending on the location, including truck, helicopter or air dispatch.
	In many forward bases, water is supplied locally from boreholes established by the UK military. Water from these is purified by reverse osmosis plants and tested for purity. Samples are regularly taken to ensure that the water is safe to drink.
	Soldiers are also provided with purification tablets for use in extremis, although these are not relied upon as an enduring means to provide troops with drinkable water.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of  (a) British forces and  (b) ISAF forces in Afghanistan against their objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 10 July 2008
	The presence of UK and other ISAF troops has already contributed significantly in transforming Afghanistan from a pariah state that harboured international terrorists, into a functioning democracy with a legitimate Government and Parliament. Security conditions are broadly stable if fragile in places, particularly in the South and East of the country. Overall in 2007, 70 per cent. of security incidents were confined to 10 per cent. of Afghanistan's 398 districts, which together contain less than 6 per cent. of the Afghan population.
	UK forces continue to expand the authority of the Government of Afghanistan in Helmand and, together with Afghan forces, are expanding areas of security around the major towns in the province, allowing civilian-led reconstruction and development work to take place.

Afghanistan: Prisons

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security reviews  (a) the British armed forces and  (b) other NATO forces have carried out on Afghan prisons in the last five years.

Des Browne: The security of prisons in Afghanistan remains the responsibility of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Consequently, UK forces do not conduct formal security reviews of these facilities.
	However, our deployed forces clearly have a strong interest in ensuring that security in the prisons in Afghanistan is adequate and therefore, we do work with the Afghan authorities in this area: for example, a team from the Helmand Task Force visited the prison in Lashkar Gar recently in part to assess the local security arrangements and provide advice on how these might be improved. The UK Prison Service is also working with the responsible local authorities to enhance security in Pol-e-Charki prison in Kabul.
	We do not hold detailed records on the extent to which NATO allies undertake security reviews of Afghan prisons.

Armed Forces: Amphibious Vehicles

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which vessels comprise the amphibious fleet; and how many  (a) officers and  (b) crew serve on each.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2707W.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to acknowledge the work of cadet forces as part of the Cadet 150 celebrations.

Derek Twigg: Work is currently under way between the MOD, the cadet forces and their supporting associations to develop a programme of events and activities to celebrate and promote the success and values of the Cadet Movement in its 150th year. A broad outline of events around the UK showcasing adventure, sports and cadet skills has been agreed, including at least one organised by each of the single-service cadet forces as well as a major national commemorative event to be taken forward under the stewardship of the MOD's ceremonial events and commemoration team in the summer of 2010.
	In addition to demonstrating the wide range of developmental opportunities available to young people in cadet units across the entire UK, it is intended that the events will help stimulate interest from adults who will be willing to come forward and dedicate their free time to becoming adult volunteers for this most worthwhile cause.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to offer equal access to Ministry of Defence logistical support to cadet force units based in rural and urban areas.

Derek Twigg: All cadet forces have equal access to MOD logistical support and this is provided on a regional basis, irrespective of whether the unit is based in a rural or urban setting.

Armed Forces: Coroners

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Government have legal representation at all inquests involving deceased military personnel.

Bob Ainsworth: For the majority of inquests, MOD does not have legal representation because they are non-adversarial, fact-finding proceedings. However, on some occasions the MOD, as an interested person may engage Counsel to assist the coroner in establishing the relevant facts surrounding the death, particularly in cases which are complex, often involving sensitive matters relating to national security.

Armed Forces: Eyesight

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applicants to the armed forces have been rejected due to poor vision or visual impairments in the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces do not record centrally the exact reason for a medical rejection of an application; only that an individual has been medically rejected. The only way to determine the exact answer would be to manually trawl through the individual files for all rejected applicants and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Eyesight

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the annual defence medical budget is allocated to eye care.

Derek Twigg: The figure requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Eyesight

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been taken off front-line duty due to visual impairments sustained in service.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average  (a) start up and  (b) running cost of a Department of Community Mental Health is.

Derek Twigg: The MOD has 15 departments of community mental health (DCMHs) in the UK with additional satellite centres in Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar. Responsibility for their individual management is shared between the single service commands.
	DCMHs came into being in April 2004. Prior to 2004 community-based mental health services were provided by what were known as departments of community psychiatry (DCPs). The conversion of DCPs to DCMHs involved providing uplifts of funding to the single services for the creation of specific staff posts and improvements to IT resources. The amount of funding provided to each of the single services varied depending on their needs, however in financial year 2004-05 it totalled approximately 7.5 million.
	Each service funds its respective DCMHs differently, with funding provision coming from a number of areas. Estimated annual costs for an average Army DCMH are approximately 543,000, which covers staff pay and other associated costs, such as allowances, training, equipment and line rental.
	Due to the number of budgets to which costs would be attributable any detailed study of DCMH finances would incur disproportionate costs.

Armed Forces: Pay

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what proportion of salary payments for personnel in all three services were paid on time in the last two years;
	(2)  how many RAF employees  (a) received a salary payment late and  (b) missed a salary payment as a result of errors in the Joint Personnel Administration system in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007;
	(3)  how many armed forces personnel  (a) received a salary payment late and  (b) did not receive one or more salary payments as a result of errors in the Joint Personnel Administration system in 2007.

Derek Twigg: During financial years 2006-07, 99.92 per cent. of personnel in all three Services were paid on time (773 RAF personnel were paid late) and in 2007-08 all armed forces personnel were paid on time. (See notes). No member of the armed forces failed to receive a salary payment as a result of errors in the Joint Personnel Administration System in either year.
	 Notes:
	1. The number of personnel paid on time and paid late reports the performance of the former Armed Forces Personnel and Administration Agency's (financial year 2006-07) and the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency's (financial year 2007-08) against key target 1 (timeliness of pay) as set out in the Annual Corporate Plan and Annual Report and Accounts.
	2. Some individual delays in payments of some additional pay and allowances have occurred as a result of late or invalid inputs to the Joint Personnel Administration system being received from individuals, unit HR or career managers.
	3. Local cash payments are always available to individuals should the need arise.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of recruitment to the armed forces against targets by region for the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no recruitment targets currently set by region or nationality.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 718W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), which details target and actual recruitment to the Army, Naval Service and RAF. Recruitment targets are shown from 2000-01 to 2007-08. Actual recruitment is shown from 1997-98 to 2007-08.

Armed Forces: Scotland

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service family accommodation properties in  (a) Scotland and  (b) Northern Ireland have been identified as awaiting (i) disposal and (ii) demolition in each year since 2002.

Derek Twigg: The following service family accommodation (SFA) properties in Scotland have been identified for disposal and demolition.
	
		
			  Financial year  Identified for disposal  Identified for demolition 
			 2001-02 670 0 
			 2002-03 41 84 
			 2003-04 248 0 
			 2004-05 260 0 
			 2005-06 86 0 
			 2006-07 183 0 
			 2007-08 419 0 
			 2008-09 95 0 
		
	
	In Northern Ireland, 553 properties await disposal and 142 properties are currently being demolished. Historic data for Northern Ireland is not available.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on Defence Training Review project financing of levels of demand from residential developers for his Department's land at  (a) Aborfield and  (b) Bordon.

Bob Ainsworth: The Defence Training Review (DTR) Package 1 Project plans to improve and rationalise phase 2 and phase 3 technical training. As a consequence of this rationalisation both Bordon and Arborfield Garrisons will be released for sale from 2012 onwards.
	MOD has sought recent independent valuation advice for both sites as part of financial appraisals for DTR which uses prudent levels of values in its assessments.

Armed Forces: Training

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress his Department has made on the proposed sale of sites at  (a) Arborfield and  (b) Bordon; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: As a result of defence training review project, which aims to improve and rationalise defence training, Bordon and Arborfield garrisons will be released for sale. The sites will be sold following the relocation of the occupying units to their new facilities from 2012 onwards.
	In anticipation of this disposal Defence Estates is working with the respective local authorities to achieve master plans and prepare planning applications for both locations.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans have been agreed by his Department for managing affordability gaps identified in the Defence Training Review.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department continues to work constructively with the Metrix consortium on a range of issues on DTR Package 1 to achieve an affordable, value for money, acceptable and deliverable project. Cost growth and the implications of the credit crunch on borrowing have been a significant factor. The Department has been working jointly with Metrix to drive the price down to seek to eliminate the affordability gap without materially affecting the scope of the project.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to discuss with the Comptroller and Auditor General the treatment of the financing of the Defence Training Review programme in his Department's accounts.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence has not yet entered into a contract for the delivery of Defence Training with the Metrix consortium. The treatment of the financing of the Defence Training Review (DTR) programme does not therefore appear in the Department's accounts and consequently there are no plans to discuss DTR with the Comptroller and Auditor General. One minor entry for a contingent liability of 9.5 million will, however, be included in this financial year's account. This undertaking was laid as a departmental minute before the House for 14 working days on 29 January this year.

Defence Training Review Executive Board

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the minutes of the last meeting of the Defence Training Review Executive Board.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information requested as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interest.

Defence: Expenditure

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence expenditure  (a) including and  (b) excluding the cost of operations was in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available in (i) cash terms and (ii) as an estimated percentage of gross domestic product.

Des Browne: Defence expenditure figures for 2006-07 are as follows:
	
		
			   Near cash outturn ()  Percentage of GDP 
			 Including the cost of operations 30,207,161,000 2.6 
			 Excluding the cost of operations 28,475,793,000 2.4

Departmental Car Allowances

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mileage allowance is provided to each category of entitled worker by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Civilian employees who use their private vehicle for official duty may claim one of two mileage rates, the Standard Rate of Motor Mileage Allowance (SRMMA) or where there are more economic methods of travel, the Private Travel Rate of Motor Mileage Allowance (PTRMMA). Rates are:
	 SRMMA:
	40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles
	25p per mile for travel more than 10,000 miles
	 PTRMMA:
	25p per mile
	The SRMMA is based on HM Revenue and Customs Authorised Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) and the PTRMMA on the AMAP for travel more than 10,000 miles.
	There are several travel allowances which can be claimed by service personnel.
	The UK Private Car Rate (PCR) is more usually claimed for duty journeys (i.e. journeys undertaken for reasons such as meetings or official visits). It is payable for journeys where there is no spare seat available in a service or private motor vehicle already scheduled to undertake a journey in the required direction and, although public transport could be used without undue detriment to the interests of the service, the use of a private motor vehicle is considered reasonable. The rate is 28.3p per mile.
	The UK Official Duty Rate (ODR), which is authorised only very occasionally for duty journeys where the use of a private motor vehicle is essential and there is no cheaper alternative, is the same as the SRMMA for civilians and is also based on HM Revenue and Customs Authorised Mileage Allowance Payments AMAPs.
	Service personnel who travel daily between the accommodation where they live and their place of duty may claim Home to Duty (HTD) (Public) if they live in public accommodation or HTD (Private) if they live in private accommodation. The allowance is based on the distance travelled up to a maximum of 50 miles per single journey, less a personal contribution of one mile per single journey for HTD (Public) and nine miles per single journey for HTD (Private). The rates are paid on a daily basis and vary according to the number of miles travelled. For example the daily HTD (Public) rate claimable for a distance of 30 miles each way from the place of duty is 9.94.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows details of the number of Ministry of Defence civilian employees that have taken early retirement in the last two financial years.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of MOD civilian staff who have taken early retirement( 1) 
			 2006-07 1,370 
			 2007-08 1,700 
			 (1) Includes all non-industrial, industrial and trading fund MOD civilian personnel but excludes Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilian staff for whom no information on exit reason is available.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Departmental Equipment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer on 19 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1363-64W, on departmental equipment, how many of the computers which have been stolen since 1998 contained information with a classification of  (a) none,  (b) restricted,  (c) confidential,  (d) secret and  (e) top secret;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 58W, on departmental computers, how many of the computers which were stolen in 2007 had a classification of  (a) no classification,  (b) restricted,  (c) confidential,  (d) secret and  (e) top secret.

Bob Ainsworth: As a result of the theft of the Royal Navy laptop, the Ministry of Defence has initiated an investigation into the details of all lost or stolen computers since 2003.
	I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available and arrange for a copy of my reply to be placed in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Questions on 25 January 2008, (Official Report, columns 2246-47W) about departmental computers.
	As a result of the investigation into details of electronic media lost/stolen since 2003, which I announced on 31 March 2008, (Official Report, column 517W), data on the number of laptops and desktop computers centrally reported as stolen from the Department since 2003 have been revised. Figures prior to 2003 were not centrally recorded and were limited in nature and are therefore not presented in this reply. The information is set out in the following table which identifies the highest Protective Marking (classification) of material which the systems were accredited to hold.
	
		
			   Unclassified /None  Restricted  Confidential  Secret  Top Secret  Not  d etermined  Total 
			  2003
			 Laptops 20 39 0 1 3 73 136 
			 Desktops 7 2 0 0 0 36 45 
			 
			  2004
			 Laptops 74 86 0 2 0 110 272 
			 Desktops 12 5 0 0 0 20 37 
			  2005
			 Laptops 12 34 0 1 0 83 130 
			 Desktops 3 3 0 0 0 19 25 
			 
			  2006
			 Laptops 32 58 0 2 0 63 155 
			 Desktops 2 3 0 1 0 22 28 
			 
			  2007
			 Laptops 13 35 0 0 0 53 101 
			 Desktops 1 9 0 0 0 3 13 
			 
			  2008 (Up to 25 June 08)
			 Laptops 15 19 0 0 0 0 34 
			 Desktops 3 2 0 0 0 0 5 
		
	
	In some instances it has not been possible to determine the highest Protective Marking of material which the systems were accredited to hold as it was not established when the incident was reported and subsequent clarification has proved inconclusive (these are classified as 'Not Determined' in the table).
	Our investigation may not have identified all instances where a higher Protective Marking of material was held on a lower classification of system. Attempting to confirm these would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. Processes have been amended to establish the highest Protective Marking of material held on systems as part of our data capture and investigation of such incidents.

Departmental Land

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much of the land owned by his Department has been deemed surplus to requirements; and what the estimated value of such land is;
	(2)  what the estimated value of his Department's land planned to be decommissioned is.

Derek Twigg: Information regarding sites both in disposal and also those potentially surplus to requirements in the future is available in the Library of the House and is periodically updated.
	Details of the estimated sale value of land that is due to be disposed of are not published as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Departmental Legal Costs

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on legal fees defending cases in the courts in each financial year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal guidance available on his Department's staff intranet on the drafting of answers to Parliamentary Questions.

Derek Twigg: Yes.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of staff in his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Derek Twigg: The proportion of staff who, under their respective pay arrangements did not receive the maximum bonus possible was 92 per cent. in 2006 and 94 per cent. in 2007.

Departmental Pay

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what bonuses were paid to senior civil servants in his Department in 2007-08;
	(2)  what proportion of bonus payments to senior civil servants in 2007-08 was paid to officials in his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many senior civil servants in his Department were eligible for bonus payments in 2007-08; and how much his Department paid in bonus payments in that year.

Derek Twigg: We are not yet in a position to provide the information requested as this year's Senior Civil Service Pay Committee process for 2007-08 is not yet complete. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down his Department's main estimate in  (a) near cash and  (b) non-cash terms on the same basis as in his Answers to the hon. Member for Aldershot on 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2346W and 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2284W.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answers to  (a) the hon. Member for Aldershot of 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1893W and  (b) the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre of 26 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1359W on departments: public expenditure, if he will clarify his Department's budget in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence's planned expenditure over the next three years (including 2008-09) is detailed in section IV of the Defence Plan published in June 2008.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reviews of regulation  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Derek Twigg: The majority of regulations made by the Ministry of Defence relate directly to the armed forces. Following the Armed Forces Act 2006 the Department has begun, and is continuing, a programme which will involve the replacement of all the single service subordinate legislation with tri-Service regulations under the new Act. However, this does not cover all regulations to which the question refers. That information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: The Defence Academy, the MOD's internal training provider, runs 660 different courses that are open to civil servants, of which some run several times a year, making a total of 5,439 courses available.
	The take-up by civil servants over the last 12 months was 54,602. This figure does not include any e-learning courses undertaken, and may include the same civil servant attending and completing more than one course.
	Information about courses run by external training providers can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Wastes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Derek Twigg: Over the past two years the Ministry of Defence has undertaken a series of actions to reduce the amount of waste it produces and sends to landfill. These include: conducting a series of site waste audits to determine the processes that generate waste; implementing site waste minimisation schemes; and commissioning a Waste Management Improvement Project. This examined waste management activities carried out throughout the defence estate and how these could be improved to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first instance and to increase the amount of waste that remained to recycling and recovery operations. The recommendations from this report are in the process of being actioned.
	The Ministry of Defence is also working closely with not-for-profit organisations such as WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) to increase the amount of construction waste re-used on site and recycled off-site, and NISP (National Industrial Symbiosis Programme) which looks to create industrial synergies with local businesses and organisations so that the Department's waste is used as another's resource.
	The MOD Specialist Training School at RAF Halton also runs an accredited three-day waste management course which teaches individual site environmental advisers the practical aspects of waste management with an emphasis on waste reduction and recovery.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested. However, during session 2006-07, 25 per cent. of both named day written questions and ordinary written questions were answered on time.

EU Defence Policy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK  (a) military units and  (b) vessels have taken part in EU military operations.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces on 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1894W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
	The UK is also contributing a total of four military officers to the current ESDP mission to Chad/Central African Republic (CAR): two officers in the operational HQ at Mont Valerien in Paris and two officers in the force HQ in Chad/CAR. These staff officers are being provided under standing EU headquarters augmentation procedures.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian contractors employed by his Department serving on  (a) Operation Telic and  (b) Operation Herrick have been (i) wounded and (ii) killed in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: We greatly value the work done by contractors in supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and we take very seriously our responsibilities towards them in both theatres. However, collating comprehensive data on injuries or fatalities suffered by our contractors is very difficult. As a result, detailed and reliable information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Iraqi insurgents his Department estimates to be  (a) Ba'athists,  (b) Nationalists,  (c) Kurdish Worker Party members,  (d) the Salafi,  (e) Badr Organisation members and  (f) Mahdi Army members; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: It is not possible to estimate with any accuracy the proportion of Iraqi insurgents that belong to specific categories. Membership of individual groups fluctuates with their fortunes and divisions between them can be blurred, making assessments of their numbers difficult.
	The Badr Organisation is not an insurgent group, but a legitimate political party. The Kurdish Workers' Party is a Turkish, not Iraqi, group which operates against Turkey.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often armoured vehicles have been penetrated by insurgent ordnance in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contact lens infections have been reported in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan amongst armed forces personnel since 2003 in each country.

Derek Twigg: The following numbers are recorded as having been aeromedically transferred to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak with contact lens related ulcers:
	
		
			  Theatre  Time period  Number of cases 
			 Iraq 1 January 2003 to 9 July 2008 24 
			 Afghanistan 1 January 2003 to 9 July 2008 5 
		
	
	There may also have been a small number of cases treated successfully in-theatre. Details will be recorded on the individuals' personal medical files, but are not recorded centrally.

Korean War

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British servicemen who went missing in action during the Korean War remain unaccounted for.

Derek Twigg: The cases of all Korean war servicemen who were not accounted for at the end of the war were extensively investigated in the early 1950s. In 1954, following these investigations, the War Office presumed death had occurred for all 118 cases of servicemen identified as missing. This was later changed to 113 to reflect the recovery of five bodes in the late 1950s.

Martyn Compton

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1175W, on Martyn Compton, when he expects to make a decision on the compensation payable to Lance Corporal Compton.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member when a decision has been made.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average number of  (a) planned and  (b) actual flying hours for each helicopter type in the (i) Army Air Corps, (ii) Fleet Air Arm and (iii) Royal Air Force was in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: There is no requirement to hold data on average flying hours. The total planned and actual flying hours for each helicopter type in the three services for each year since 2001 are shown in the following tables. Information on planned flying hours prior to 2004-05 is not available for all aircraft types.
	
		
			  Army Air Corps 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Apache AH1
			 Planned hours8,096 9,793 13,720 13,987 
			 Actual hours 818 2,137 3,248 5,460 7,295 11,334 12,040 
			 
			  Agusta A109
			 Planned hours1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 
			 Actual hours 989 1,053 1,001 925 1,067 987 1,080 
			 
			  Gazelle
			 Planned hours33,333 20,376 14,200 14,822 
			 Actual hours 35,518 33,336 29,145 26,643 19,996 13,866 11,709 
			 
			  Lynx Mk 7 and 9
			 Planned hours21,988 23,520 24,270 14,400 
			 Actual hours 23,982 23,196 21,029 22,724 23,338 21,228 17,914 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Navy 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Lynx Mk 3
			 Planned hours 6,337 7,165 5,853 5,853 6,500 6,500 5,600 
			 Actual hours 7,657 7,857 7,627 6,558 6,764 6,305 6,377 
			 
			  Lynx Mk 8
			 Planned hours 5,163 3,835 5,247 5,247 6,500 6,500 5,600 
			 Actual hours 3,426 3,921 4,874 4,527 5,351 5,925 5,333 
			 
			  Merlin Mk1
			 Planned hours 5,341 9,450 11,200 7,500 10,274 9,783 10,728 
			 Actual hours 3,224 4,445 4,820 2,616 5,931 6,828 6,737 
			 
			  Sea King Mk 5
			 Planned hours 2,863 3,124 2,682 3,632 4,849 4,849 4,849 
			 Actual hours 3,627 3,633 3,941 4,278 4,067 4,138 4,205 
			 
			  Sea King Mk 6
			 Planned hours 8,569 4,704 2,949 928
			 Actual hours 5,476 3,617 2,002 1,623 777   
			 
			  Sea King Mk 7
			 Planned hours  1,360 4,068 3,840 4,236 4,236 4,236 
			 Actual hours  1,925 3,098 3,280 3,154 3,039 3,274 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Chinook HCS/2a
			 Planned hours11,870 12,063 14,735 13,999 
			 Actual hours 10,199 10,279 10,400 11,973 11,308 13,040 13,366 
			 
			  Merlin HC  Mk3
			 Planned hours3,610 6,036 6,003 5,912 
			 Actual hours 974 2,028 3,112 1,980 3,965 5,406 5,479 
			 
			  Puma HC Mkl
			 Planned hours13,250 12,670 13,000 12,041 
			 Actual hours 14,453 13,168 12,924 11,750 10,521 11,179 9,367 
			 
			 S ea King HAR 3/3a
			 Planned hours 13,404 10,100 10,100 10,100 10,800 10,800 10,800 
			 Actual hours 9,630 9,448 10,499 10,899 12,644 11,843 11,028

National Security

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many of the National Security Strategy's objectives in areas within his Department's responsibility have been implemented; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans his Department and its agencies have to implement the National Security Strategy within areas of his Department's responsibility; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what targets have been set for his Department in implementing those parts of the National Security Strategy which are within its areas of responsibility; and how performance against such targets will be measured.

Des Browne: MOD is contributing to the delivery of a wide range of the cross-Government objectives set out in the National Security Strategy and these priorities are reflected in our plans. Implementation is co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office and overseen by the Ministerial Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development.

Nord Anglia

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the Metrix Consortium and the Defence Training Review programme of the sale of Nord Anglia to Baring, an Asian private equity company.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD will need to be content with all relevant arrangements pertaining to the Metrix Consortium and its subcontractors as a precursor to entering into a contract for DTR Package 1. The DTR contract is not yet let but Nord Anglia are envisaged as a lower-tier sub-contractor to Metrix. MOD will therefore be assuring itself that this change in ownership does not in any way preclude the inclusion of Nord Anglia under the terms of the proposed DTR contract, which includes specific provisions to protect the national interest. If these subcontracting conditions cannot be met, the requirements of the contract to provide the DTR services nonetheless persist and it will be for Metrix, as the prime contractor, to deliver against those requirements.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) armed forces and  (b) civilian personnel are stationed at RAF Halton.

Bob Ainsworth: The following tables give the number of armed forces and civilian personnel stationed at RAF Halton at 1 July 2008.
	
		
			  Armed forces personnel 
			   Number 
			 Service 790 
			 Student 944 
		
	
	
		
			  Civilian  p ersonnel 
			   Number 
			 Staff 490 
			 Contractors 375

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have received recruit training at RAF Halton in each year since 1998.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table gives the number of armed forces personnel who have received recruit training at RAF Halton. Information is only available from financial year 2003-04.
	
		
			  Recruit training 
			   Number 
			 2003-04 3,271 
			 2004-05 1,556 
			 2005-06 957 
			 2006-07 1,075 
			 2007-08 2,149 
			  Note: 1. Training numbers for financial year 2007-08 includes figures for the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have received basic trade training at RAF Halton for  (a) supply roles,  (b) catering and  (c) administration roles in each year since 1998.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table gives the number of armed forces personnel who have received basic trade training for supply, catering and administration roles at RAF Halton. Information is only available from financial year 2003-04.
	
		
			  Trade 
			   Catering  Administration  Supply 
			 2003-04 201 120 159 
			 2004-05 188 65 134 
			 2005-06 51  50 
			 2006-07 61  40 
			 2007-08 44  45

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much income was received by his Department from RAF Halton selling  (a) spare capacity training and  (b) spare capacity resources in each year since 1998.

Bob Ainsworth: The income received by the MOD from RAF Halton selling spare training capacity and spare resource capacity, is given in the following table. Spare training capacity figures are approximate and have been provided by HORIZON who have a contract with the RAF to market this training. Exact figures relating to spare training capacity are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information given in the table has been rounded to the nearest l,000. Information is not available for the years prior to those included in the table.
	
		
			   
			   Income received from spare training capacity at RAF Halton  Income received from spare resource capacity at RAF Halton 
			 2003-04 21,000 n/a 
			 2004-05 20,000 145,000 
			 2005-06 25,000 237,000 
			 2006-07 44,000 212,000 
			 2007-08 63,000 240,000 
			 n/a = Not available.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which customers purchased  (a) spare capacity training and  (b) spare capacity resources from RAF Halton in each year since 1998.

Bob Ainsworth: The RAF has had a contract with HORIZON to market spare training capacity at RAF Halton since 2001. I am withholding the list of HORIZON'S customers as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests. Details of customers for spare capacity at RAF Halton prior to 2001 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Since financial year 2004-05, approximately 1,500 customers have purchased spare resource capacity from RAF Halton. I will write to the hon. Member with the names of these customers.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian staff vacancies have been advertised at RAF Halton in each year since 1998.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table gives the number of civilian staff vacancies advertised internally and externally at RAF Halton. Information is only available from calendar year 2003. Earlier information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Vacancies 
			   Number 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 11 
			 2005 36 
			 2006 82 
			 2007 171

South Korea: Defence

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has held with his South Korean counterpart on strengthening the defence procurement relationship between the UK and the government of South Korea.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary met his South Korean counterpart Minister, Lee Sang Hee in Singapore on 1 June in the margins of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit. Strengthening the defence procurement relationship between the UK and the government of South Korea was not discussed.

Trident Missiles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any Trident warheads have experienced specified abnormal or severely abnormal environments, as defined by JSP 538 in the last 30 years.

Des Browne: No Trident warhead has experienced either a specified or severe abnormal environment. The Trident nuclear warhead system was designed against robust environmental standards that are now captured in JSP 538. In achieving approval for in-service use for Trident, trials and assessments of components and special build warheads against those standards were undertaken and passed.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to purchasing MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from overseas rather than UK-assembled UAVs.

Bob Ainsworth: In order to meet an Urgent Operational Requirement an assessment was made of all known developmental and off-the-shelf strategic level unmanned air vehicles, including those available from within the UK. This assessment concluded that the MQ-9 Reaper was the only UAV which provided the required capability in the necessary time scale. The MQ-9 Reaper has been procured complete from a US company, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, which is the sole source for the system. Watchkeeper, which is expected to enter service in 2010 to meet the long-term requirement for a formation higher tactical level UAV, will be assembled in the UK and work is under way to decide how best to meet our future strategic level UAV requirements.

HEALTH

Abortion: Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many times the 2007 Abortion Statistics have been downloaded from his Department's website.
	(2)  how many hard copies of the 2007 Abortion Statistics have been provided by his Department free of charge; to whom; at what cost to the public purse; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Between 19 and 30 June there have been 783 downloads of the PDF of Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007 and 764 downloads of the tables in Excel format.
	Further to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 515W, paper copies of the statistical bulletin were made available in the Vote Office as he requested. Fifty copies were provided and no estimate has been made of the cost of doing so. No other hard copies of the bulletin have been distributed.

Ambulance Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances have been decommissioned by the NHS in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. It is for trusts to ensure at local level that the ambulance vehicles they are using are fit for purpose.

Ambulance Services: Fuels

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from the East of England Ambulance Service on the effect of increases in the cost of fuel on ambulance services;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of recent increases in the cost of fuel on ambulance services in  (a) Hertfordshire and  (b) England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: No recent representations have been received from the East of England Ambulance Service on the effect of increases in the cost of fuel on ambulance services.
	Arrangements for accessing fuel for ambulances are the responsibility of local ambulance trusts, and we have made no assessment of the effect of increases in the cost of fuel on ambulance services in either Hertfordshire or England. The health service in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Ambulance Services: Vehicles

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to ambulance authorities on procurement of vehicles; and what makes of ambulance are recommended for purchase by ambulance authorities.

Ben Bradshaw: There are two types of ambulance procured by ambulance trusts: patient transport service ambulances and accident and emergency (A and E) ambulances.
	Both types of vehicles can be procured either by outright purchase or by leasing, depending on the individual trusts preference.
	For the outright purchase of either type the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) has two national frameworks in place. These contracts provide ambulances which comply with the standard adopted by the British Standards Institute for those vehicles which carry a stretcher.
	The specification for A and E ambulances for the new framework was decided by the National Strategic Ambulance Group. The new national specification for front line accident and emergency ambulances is box body only and because of the equipment it carries Mercedes, Iveco and Volkswagon are specified as suitable providers.
	These frameworks are not mandatory and trusts can tender on their own behalf for both patient transport service and A and E ambulances. However, trusts may make use of NHS PASA advice and assistance.

Autism: Drugs

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that there is no gap in the provision of prescribed drugs to a person suffering from autism on reaching the age of 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Transition planning is important for young people moving from child to adult services. This process should involve an integrated multidisciplinary team (including the general practitioner) to enable co-ordinated care, including medical management and medication. The Department would expect the continued prescribing of medicines to form part of this planning.

Cancer: Mortality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the average numbers of years of life lost for  (a) all cancers,  (b) brain tumours,  (c) prostate cancer and  (d) breast cancer in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: holding answer 9 July 2008
	 The following table shows the numbers of years of life lost for all cancers, cancer of the brain, prostate cancer and breast cancer in England. The figures are for the period 2004-06.
	
		
			  Summary of years of life lost statistics for selected causes of death, England, 2004-06 (pooled) 
			Number of deaths aged under 75 years  Number of years of life lost up to age 75 years 
			  Cause of death  Gender  Three year total  Annual average  Three year total  Annual average 
			 Mortality from all cancers(1) Persons 186,747 62,249 2,221,529.5 740,509.8 
			 Mortality from cancer of the brain (brain tumours)(2) Persons 6,594 2,198 121,828.0 40,609.3 
			 Mortality from prostate cancer(1) Males 7,298 2,433 49,250.0 16,416.7 
			 Mortality from breast cancer(1) Females 17,086 5,695 265,068.0 88,356.0 
			 (1) Source: Clinical and Health Outcomes Knowledge Base: The Information Centre for health and social care/National Centre for Health Outcomes Development, 2008. (2) Source: Cancer of braina bespoke analysis by National Centre for Health Outcomes Development, July 2008.  Notes: 1. Data are based on the original underlying cause of death. 2. Data are based on the latest revisions of Office for National statistics population estimates for the respective years, current as at 23 October 2007. 3. Data exclude deaths under one year of age. 4. Figures have been taken from the Compendium of Clinical and Health Indicators on the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development websitespecifically from the spreadsheets showing the crude rate per 10,000 population and number of years of life lost for each of the conditions requested.

Breast Cancer: Genetics

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of women in England considered to have an increased risk of breast cancer as a result of a genetic defect.

Ann Keen: The Department does not have estimates of how many women are at risk of breast cancer due to a genetic defect. The 2004 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on the classification and care of women at risk of familial breast cancer estimates that three to 5 per cent. of women have inherited faults that can lead to a high risk of developing breast cancer. Up to 27 per cent. of women may have an inherited predisposition to breast cancer.
	Recent research has identified other genes, which are associated with a small increased risk of developing breast cancer. Further work is needed but these discoveries offer the possibility that we will be able to identify more women at increased risk.

Breast Cancer: Genetics

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS healthcare trusts offer double screening of mammograms and MRI mammograms to women at increased risk of breast cancer as a result of family history and genetic defect.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

Care Homes: Inspections

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used by the Commission for Social Care Inspection to judge the performance of care homes; how many  (a) care homes,  (b) residential homes and  (c) nursing homes in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex and (iii) England were ordered to close in each of the last five years; and for what reason in each case.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that it assesses the performance of care homes against the Care Homes Regulations 2001, taking account of the relevant national minimum standards (NMS). Inspectors also assess how care homes comply with other regulations, such as those relating to health and safety.
	CSCI uses key lines of regulatory assessment (KLORA) to help in making judgments about each NMS outcome group. These guidance documents provide inspectors with examples of evidence that may be found in an excellent, good, adequate or poor service. The KLORA are a description of what the standards might look like in practice, not an additional set of standards that have to be met. They help to translate evidence into a judgement of either excellent, good, adequate or poor, to assist in assessing how well a care service is performing.
	The following tables show the information held centrally with regard to the cancellation of registration of providers of care homes and care homes with nursing in Southend, Essex and England during the operational years from 2003-04 to 2007-08. The data cover both cancellation of registration under section 17 'normal' cancellations following the set Notice of Proposal procedure and section 20 'urgent applications to a Justice of the Peace', of the Care Standards Act 2000.
	It should be noted that all care homes are residential. CSCI distinguishes between those that provide personal care only, nursing homes and non-medical nursing homes.
	In Southend, three care homes underwent cancellation of registration during the period. These cancellations were due to continuous failure on the part of the providers in question to meet regulations and an unacceptable degree of risk to people living in the services.
	In Essex, one care home underwent cancellation of registration during the period. The home, which was deregistered in 2004-05, provided a poor physical environment and had issues regarding staffing. This provider subsequently applied for a voluntary cancellation.
	We have been informed by CSCI that to provide the reasons for all cancellations in England since 2003-04 would involve disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of compulsory cancellations of registration issued (care homes in Essex and Southend on Sea) 
			  Type of home  Area  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Care homepersonal care only Essex 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Care homepersonal care only Southend on Sea 1 0 1 0 1 3 
			 Total  1 1 1 0 1 4 
			  Note: Figures shown are non-urgent cancellations. There have been no urgent cancellation orders in either of these council areas during the period shown.  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database. Data as at 27 June 2008. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of compulsory cancellations of registration issued (care homes in England) 
			  Type of home  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Tot al 
			 Care home with nursing 10 6 8 6 7 39 
			 Care homepersonal care only 49 21 25 28 31 162 
			 Total 59 27 33 34 38 201 
			  Note: The figures shown include both urgent and non-urgent cancellations. Urgent cancellations are shown separately in the following table.  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database. Data as at 27 June 2008. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of urgent cancellations of registration issued (care homes in England) 
			  Type of home  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Care home with nursing 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Care homepersonal care only 0 5 0 3 9 17 
			 Totals 0 5 1 3 9 18 
			  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database. Data as at 27 June 2008.

Care Homes: Inspections

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how often care homes are subject to inspection; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the standard of care was in each care home inspected in each of the last three years for which details are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that The Commission for Social Care Inspection (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 require CSCI to make arrangements to inspect care homes, domiciliary care agencies and adult placement schemes at least in every three-year period. The Regulations permit CSCI to take a proportionate approach to inspection, based on an assessment of the quality, risk and outcomes for the people who use services.
	In order to make these assessments, CSCI carries out key inspections of all registered services. Key inspections, which are usually unannounced, are a thorough examination of how well a service is performing. Inspections take into account information provided by the owner or manager, the views and experiences of people living there, their relatives, staff and visiting professionals, as well as information CSCI finds when it visits the service. CSCI also considers any relevant information it has received about the service since the last inspection, for example, concerns that may have been raised.
	CSCI uses all information collected to measure how far the experiences of people using a service meet their expectations in areas that are important to them. Inspecting in this way helps CSCI to put residents at the heart of how it judges the quality of services. From these judgments, CSCI awards quality ratings, which help it to plan how often the service should be inspected in future. The frequencies are:
	a three starexcellentservice will receive at least one key inspection every three years;
	a two stargoodservice will receive at least one key inspection every two years;
	a one staradequateservice will receive at least one key inspection every year; and
	a zero starpoorservice will receive two key inspections every year.
	This does not mean that a service will not be inspected more often if necessary. CSCI also carries out shorter, targeted, random inspections. These are usually unannounced and can take place at any time of the day or night. CSCI may undertake a random inspection because it has received information that suggests people using the service might be at risk, or to check on improvements that should have been made.
	During each year in which services rated excellent or good are not inspected, CSCI carries out an annual service review. During a review, CSCI analyses all the information received about the service during the last 12 months, including any complaints or notifications. It also surveys people using the service and other interested parties. If, as a result of the review, CSCI considers the quality of the service may have changed, it may decide to bring forward the next key inspection or to carry out a random inspection visit.
	To provide information on the standard of care in every care home inspected in each of the last three years would incur disproportionate cost. CSCI inspects homes against the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Care Homes for Older People or the NMS for Care Homes for Adults. The decision as to which set of NMS should be used is made by the inspector at the time of the inspection and is based on the current age profile of the residents of the home. The following tables show the percentages of homes meeting or exceeding the individual NMS during the last three years for which information is available.
	
		
			  Percentages of services meeting or exceeding individual NMS for care homes for older people 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  National minimum standard 
			   Private  Council  Voluntary  Totals for all services 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Information 72 78 78 71 76 77 76 84 82 72 78 78 
			 Contract 81 85 83 74 78 77 85 89 87 81 85 83 
			 Needs assessment 82 85 84 84 85 84 88 87 86 83 84 84 
			 Meeting needs 81 83 83 82 84 82 88 90 89 82 84 83 
			 Trial visits 96 97 97 93 94 95 99 99 98 96 97 97 
			 Intermediate care 80 86 87 81 82 87 90 92 95 82 86 88 
			 Service user plan 56 57 56 58 55 58 57 58 56 56 57 56 
			 Healthcare 77 77 79 80 83 80 83 84 83 78 78 79 
			 Medication 56 59 60 60 60 60 58 58 60 56 59 60 
			 Privacy and dignity 88 89 89 90 92 94 94 94 94 89 89 90 
			 Dying and death 88 89 88 86 87 88 93 92 93 88 89 89 
			 Social contact and activities 80 78 75 82 79 76 87 86 85 81 79 76 
			 Community contact 97 98 97 97 98 98 98 98 99 97 98 97 
			 Autonomy and choice 90 90 91 94 93 94 95 95 95 91 91 92 
			 Meals and mealtimes 84 84 85 86 89 89 89 91 92 84 85 86 
			 Complaints 85 86 87 86 88 89 91 90 90 85 87 88 
			 Rights 96 96 96 97 97 96 98 98 98 96 96 96 
			 Protection 73 73 76 82 85 86 82 83 84 75 75 78 
			 Premises 68 66 67 57 63 69 76 73 75 68 67 68 
			 Shared facilities 89 87 86 88 88 88 93 92 92 89 88 87 
			 Lavatories and washing facilities 78 79 78 74 79 78 84 86 86 78 80 79 
			 Adaptations and equipment 75 77 77 77 81 83 88 89 88 77 79 78 
			 Space requirements 93 93 92 90 90 91 95 95 95 93 93 92 
			 Furniture and fittings 70 77 77 70 76 78 84 88 89 72 78 79 
			 Heating and lighting 67 72 73 70 75 77 78 82 83 68 73 74 
			 Hygiene and infection control 72 75 77 74 82 83 83 85 85 73 77 78 
			 Staff complement 79 80 81 73 79 78 84 84 84 79 81 81 
			 Qualifications 61 70 76 72 84 90 77 80 84 64 72 78 
			 Recruitment 59 64 68 60 71 78 67 71 75 60 65 69 
			 Staff training 69 70 71 77 79 80 83 82 80 71 72 72 
			 Day to day operations 67 72 76 74 81 87 82 84 87 69 74 78 
			 Ethos 89 88 87 94 94 94 95 94 93 90 89 89 
			 Quality assurance 60 66 68 66 71 76 71 78 81 61 67 70 
			 Financial procedures 85 87 87 86 89 88 92 94 93 86 88 88 
			 Service User Money 87 87 91 88 90 93 92 93 93 87 88 91 
			 Staff Supervision 62 65 65 77 81 78 75 75 75 65 67 67 
			 Record Keeping 67 67 66 65 68 69 73 73 72 67 68 67 
			 Safe Working Practices 52 53 60 54 59 66 62 62 67 53 54 61 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentages of services meeting or exceeding ind ividual NMS for care homes for a dults, 2004-05-2006-07 
			  National minimum standard 
			   Private  Council  Voluntary  Totals for all services 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Information 69 77 76 64 73 74 69 79 79 69 77 77 
			 Needs assessment 87 88 88 82 83 85 89 90 91 88 88 89 
			 Meeting needs 84 86 87 79 81 81 89 90 91 85 87 88 
			 Introductory visits 94 95 95 91 94 95 96 96 97 94 95 96 
			 Contract 73 78 78 65 75 74 74 80 80 73 78 78 
			 Service user plan 68 71 70 63 66 67 71 71 72 69 70 71 
			 Decision making 84 88 88 89 91 90 89 92 93 86 89 90 
			 Participation 88 89 89 83 85 86 91 92 93 89 90 90 
			 Risk taking 77 78 79 74 74 78 79 81 83 77 79 80 
			 Confidentiality 89 91 91 90 92 92 92 92 92 90 91 91 
			 Personal development 92 92 91 92 90 88 95 95 95 93 93 93 
			 Education and occupation 92 91 91 91 90 90 96 94 94 93 92 92 
			 Community links and social inclusion 92 93 93 93 92 87 95 94 94 93 93 93 
			 Leisure 86 88 88 84 86 82 88 91 91 87 89 88 
			 Relationships 97 97 97 96 96 98 98 99 99 97 98 98 
			 Daily routines 88 91 93 85 93 93 92 95 96 89 92 94 
			 Meals and meal times 87 89 90 85 89 90 89 90 93 88 90 90 
			 Personal support 91 92 92 91 90 90 93 92 94 92 92 93 
			 Healthcare 89 89 88 86 86 88 90 88 89 89 88 88 
			 Medication 62 66 67 56 67 68 63 68 69 62 67 68 
			 Ageing and death 83 85 86 83 84 83 84 86 87 83 85 86 
			 Concerns and complaints 83 86 87 81 88 89 84 87 89 83 86 88 
			 Protection 71 72 75 74 79 78 76 77 80 73 74 77 
			 Premises 67 68 69 50 56 60 61 63 65 63 65 66 
			 Space requirements 94 93 93 84 85 86 94 93 94 93 92 92 
			 Furniture and fittings 78 82 84 71 77 76 80 84 86 78 83 84 
			 Toilets and bathrooms 80 83 82 66 74 75 77 80 80 78 81 81 
			 Shared space 86 88 88 79 83 82 85 86 87 85 87 87 
			 Adaptions and equipment 88 90 88 77 82 80 89 89 89 88 89 88 
			 Hygiene and control of infection 79 84 86 74 83 88 81 83 86 80 83 86 
			 Roles 89 90 90 91 92 92 93 93 94 90 91 91 
			 Qualities and qualifications 74 74 78 74 76 80 81 80 84 77 77 80 
			 Staff team 77 79 78 74 74 73 77 78 78 76 78 78 
			 Recruitment 63 69 72 55 64 70 63 70 78 62 69 73 
			 Training and development 67 70 71 70 70 71 78 78 79 71 73 74 
			 Supervision and support 73 75 75 80 82 80 83 83 82 77 79 78 
			 Day to day operations 62 71 78 65 73 79 64 74 80 63 72 78 
			 Ethos 93 92 91 93 90 89 95 94 93 94 92 92 
			 Quality assurance 59 63 68 53 59 65 63 68 74 60 65 70 
			 Policies and procedures 75 78 77 69 74 75 78 80 81 76 79 78 
			 Record keeping 71 72 71 65 67 68 70 73 72 70 72 71 
			 Safe working practices 55 60 64 50 56 65 56 60 67 55 60 65 
			 Conduct of the service 79 80 79 75 76 79 82 83 83 80 81 80

Children: Cannabis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on research into the psychotic effect of skunk cannabis on children in the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not commissioned research from its centrally managed research and development programmes specifically related to the effects on children of cannabis.
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual NHS supported research projects undertaken during that time are available on the archived national research register at:
	https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx.

Commission for Social Care Inspection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) title,  (b) date of issue and  (c) consultation period was of each document issued for consultation by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in each year since its creation; if he will place copies of each in the Library; how members of the public may obtain copies; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	Copies of the published consultations have been placed in the Library.
	Members of the public can also obtain copies of all consultations free of charge by ordering from CSCI Details for how to order can be obtained from the CSCI website at:
	www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/how_to_order_free_printed_pub.aspx
	In addition, copies of all consultations can be downloaded from the CSCI website as follows.
	
		
			  CSCI consultations 
			  Date of issue  Title  Consultation period  Location 
			 1 July 2004 Code of Practice in Relation to Confidential Information 1 July 2004 -15 October 2004 www.csci.gov.uk/system_pages/data_protection.aspx 
			 1 September 2004 An Independent Voice (Social Services Complaints Procedure) 1 September 2004 - 20 December 2004 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/an_independent_voice.aspx 
			 1 November 2004 CSCI's draft corporate plan 2005-08 1 November 2004 -28 February 2005 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/draft_corporate_plan.aspx 
			 1 November 2004 Inspecting for Better Lives consultation 1 November 2004 -28 January 2005 www.csci.org.uk/about_csci/publications/consultation_ibl.aspx 
			 1 February 2005 Consultation on getting rid of the terminal illness (71) category in care homes 1 February 2005 -31 March 2005 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/terminal_illness_consultation.aspx 
			 1 February 2005 Race Equality Scheme 1 February 2005 -30 April 2005 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=892key= 
			 7 February 2006 Regulatory charges for council fostering and adoption services 7 February 2006 -14 March 2006 www.csci.org.uk/professional/about_csci/publications/view.aspx?csci=1257 
			 10 May 2006 Equalities and Diversity Strategy 10 May 2006 -16 June 2006 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=1427key= 
			 1 May 2006 Give us your views on the Key Lines of Regulatory Assessment (KLORA) 1 May 2006 -31 July 2006 www.csci.org.uk/about_us/publications/klora.aspx 
			 28 July 2006 A new outcomes framework for performance assessment for adult social care 2006-07: consultation document 28 July 2006 -6 October 2006 www.csci.gov.uk/pdf/paf_consultation_010806.pdf 
			 14 August 2006 Inspecting for Better Lives: A Quality Future 14 August 2006 -14 November 2006 www.csci.org.uk/about_csci/news/new_quality_rating_for_care_se.aspx 
			 20 September 2006 Disability Equality Scheme 20 September 2006 - 10 November 2006 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=1841key= 
			 28 June 2007 How we describe outcomes for people using services 1 June 2007 -31July 2007 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=2088 
			 8 February 2007 Gender Equality Scheme 8 February 2007 - March 2007 www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=2041key= 
			 9 June 2008 A Consultation on changes for the performance assessment of adult social care in 2008-09 9 June 2008 - 8 August 2008 www.csci.org.uk/professional/default.aspx?page=8004 
			  Source:  CSCI

Cord Blood

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to change the arrangements for supply of cord blood units to the NHS; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to extend the capacity of the NHS Cord Blood Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plans to change the arrangements for the supply of cord blood units to the national health service. NHS Blood and Transplant business plans for the NHS Cord Blood Bank aim for the number of banked units to rise from the present stock of over 11,000 to 20,000 by 2013.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Ben Bradshaw: During April 2007 to March 2008 a total of 784 domestic air flights were undertaken by the Department and its agencies at a cost of 147,135.
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on  (a) new capital investment and  (b) refurbishment of property in each of the last 10 years, broken down by project.

Ben Bradshaw: In each of the last 10 years the Department has had no expenditure on capital investment.
	During the same period the Department's expenditure on refurbishment has been:
	
		
			
			 1998-99 1,271,733 
			 1999-2000 1,453,483 
			 2000-01 652,456 
			 2001-02 555,000 
			 2002-03 788,000 
			 2003-04 1,113,565 
			 2004-05 963,974 
			 2005-06 5,033,305 
			 2006-07 3,520,407 
			 2007-08 2,628,819 
		
	
	It is not possible to break this information down to individual projects over this period of time.

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The cost of furniture and fittings purchased by the Department in the last five years is:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 46,743 
			 2004-05 149,097 
			 2005-06 514,155 
			 2006-07 1,074,555 
			 2007-08 751,712 
			  Note: The figure for 2007-08 includes expenditure of the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for whom no other records are available. 
		
	
	The Department does not currently keep a record of itemised purchases.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: Historically, information on information technology contracts let by the Department has not been held centrally. Due to the limitation of existing data, the information could be obtained only from direct contact with individual business units and would result in disproportionate costs.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Ben Bradshaw: The cost of identifying the value of the components making up the Department's computer systems at the time of purchase and now, is not possible on the grounds of the disproportionate cost of collating the information.
	The Department's accounts are compiled in line with the Financial Reporting Manual.

Departmental Inquiries

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent inquiries have been commissioned by his Department in the last five years; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each such inquiry.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department commissioned an Independent Inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers in April 2007. The inquiry was asked to examine the framework and processes underlying Modernising Medical Careers and make recommendations to inform any improvements for 2008 and beyond. The inquiry published its final report in January 2008. The inquiry cost 560,000. The Department has accepted the majority of recommendations.
	The Department commissioned an Independent Inquiry into Access to Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities in May 2007. The inquiry is expected to report its findings shortly. As well as focusing on the action needed to ensure adults and children with learning disabilities receive appropriate treatment in acute medical (hospital) care and general primary care, the inquiry is aiming to learn lessons from the six cases highlighted by the Mencap report Death by Indifference which are being investigated by the Health Service Ombudsman. As the inquiry is still ongoing, final costs are not yet known.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's overall target for relocating posts out of London and the south-east is 1,030 posts by March 2010. This covers the Department, its agencies and arm's length bodies. Against this target, 870 posts have already been relocated.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many permanent staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team.

Ben Bradshaw: In total 22 permanent staff in the Department, and less than five staff in each of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) are classed as staff without posts. Precise numbers are not provided for MHRA and NHS PASA on the grounds of confidentiality. In all cases active steps are being taken to find permanent posts for these staff, including such measures as providing regularly updated information on permanent vacancies, giving them priority for vacancies over staff who already have permanent posts, and providing trial periods in new posts to assess suitability.
	The Department does not have 'people action teams'.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The current special advisers arrived on 27 June 2007, and have claimed no expenses since their arrival.
	We have no record of expenses for the previous special advisers.
	Procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in the Department's staff handbook and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. Copies of the code are available in the Library and are also available on the civil service website at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the standard retirement age in his Department is; and how many people worked beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's mandatory retirement age for all employees is 65.
	The numbers of Civil Servants employed by the Department who were at least 65 in each of the last five years are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Civil Servants aged at least 65 
			   Number 
			 31 March 2008 0 
			 31 March 2007 0 
			 31 March 2006 1 
			 31 March 2005 0 
			 31 March 2004 n/a 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	The Department writes to all employees still working at the time of their 64th birthday, asking them to confirm their intended retirement date and informing them of their right to request to continue working beyond their 65th birthday.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department acknowledges and works to the principle that appointments to the civil service should be made on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. However, the Civil Service Recruitment Code allows some specific exemptions to this principle, one of which is to encourage secondments into the civil service to promote the exchange of ideas and experience. This is particularly important for the Department, which makes use of secondments as a means of employing managers and practitioners from the national health service to inform its development of policy and strategy.
	The Department makes use of an extensive network of contacts across the NHS to secure secondments, and in all cases makes an assessment to ensure that those taken on are capable of effectively undertaking the duties of the job for which they are recruited.
	In 2007-08, exceptions under the code were permitted for 37 secondments and 19 extensions of secondments.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies in the last 24 months.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of departmental passes lost or stolen during the last 24 months is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Lost 183 
			 Stolen 22

Departmental Sick Leave

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days sick leave were taken by staff in his Department  (a) on average per full-time post,  (b) on average per head and  (c) in total in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: For the financial year 2007-08, staff in the Department took 5.3 average working days sick leave per full-time post, 4.6 average working days sick leave per head and 12,102 total working days sick leave.
	Average working days sick leave per head is calculated using the total number of people who worked in the Department during the year, irrespective of how long they were employed.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days of sick leave were taken by his Department's employees in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Until 2006-07 the Cabinet Office published an annual Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service. Since then departments have been responsible for carrying out their own analysis. The annual average number of days of sick leave taken by the Department's employees in each year since 1997 are presented in the following table:
	
		
			   Average number of days 
			 2007-08 5.3 
			 2006-07(1) 6.5 
			 2005(1) 7.0 
			 2004 3.8 
			 2003 5.4 
			 2002 4.7 
			 200(1) 6.8 
			 2000 5.8 
			 1999 6.8 
			 1998 n/a 
			 1997 n/a 
			 n/a = Not available (1) Reporting periods changed from calendar years to financial years between 2005 and 2006.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's London administrative buildings are connected to the parliamentary 'annunciator' system provided by the Central Office of Information. All television feeds including the Parliamentary Channel are provided in this way.
	The Department has no direct subscriptions with the television companies for these services apart from a Sky Plus subscription set up and paid for by the Department's Media Centre. This is at a cost of 2,171.40 per annum.
	The Department's Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency does not subscribe to any Sky, digital or cable channels.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its agencies have not published green transport plans, but have implemented a number of greener travel initiatives. The Department is developing a green travel policy in line with national policies and targets for sustainable operations on the Government estate. The Department's green travel policy will be a key component of its Sustainable Development Strategy, which is due to be published in the autumn.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has expended the following sums on food in the last five years:
	
		
			   Spent on food () 
			 2003-04 546,926 
			 2004-05 540,599 
			 2005-06 559,924 
			 2006-07 546,122 
			 2007-08 581,353 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide information on how much of this spend was on food of British origin.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The five countries of origin in order of highest procurement of food are:
	Britainfor all seasonal produce;
	Francefruit juice, soft and orchard fruits, legumes;
	Hollandchipped potatoes;
	Irelandcheese; and
	Spainprotected and other vegetables, soft fruits.
	It has not been possible to obtain details of cost and quantity from the Department's catering contractor.

General Practitioners: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has held on the establishment of a polyclinic in Chorley.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government do not have a polyclinic policy. Primary care trusts (PCTs) have been asked to provide at least one general practitioner (GP)-led health centre in their areas that will be open from 8 am to 8 pm, 365 days a year and that can be used by anyone either with an appointment or on a walk-in basis.
	It is for PCTs to set out their proposals for these new GP-led health centres following consultation with patients, GPs and others, which focus on local needs and preferences.
	The North West strategic health authority (SHA) reports that Central Lancashire PCT plans to introduce three primary care access centres, which will include GP access services, urgent primary care (minor injuries and ailments) and dentistry. One of these centres will be located in Chorley.
	A procurement process, open to all providers including existing local GPs, is in its early stages for the primary care access centres. The providers will be chosen at the end of 2008 with the centres opening in 2009.

General Practitioners: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) GPs,  (b) GPs working in single-handed practices and  (c) GPs working in practices of two there were in each London primary care trust in 2006-07.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the number of general practitioners (GPs), GPs working in single-handed practices and GPs working in practices of two practitioners in each London primary care trust (PCT) at 30 September 2006 and at 30 September 2007.
	
		
			  GPs (headcount, excluding retainers and registrars) by PCT within the London Strategic Health Authority, at 30 September 
			   2006  2007 
			   All GPs  Single-handed GPs  GPs working within a practice of two practitioners  All GPs  Single-handed GPs  GPs working within a practice of two practitioners 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 75 18 36 80 17 30 
			 Barnet PCT 218 27 36 218 29 38 
			 Bexley Care Trust 98 11 16 108 9 8 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 194 21 48 196 19 46 
			 Bromley PCT 198 13 12 203 10 14 
			 Camden PCT 156 17 10 152 16 10 
			 City and Hackney PCT 178 6 26 192 6 32 
			 Croydon PCT 221 13 30 214 12 28 
			 Ealing PCT 185 27 48 203 26 46 
			 Enfield PCT 159 23 28 164 19 34 
			 Greenwich PCT 118 17 26 140 14 24 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 102 9 14 109 7 16 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 150 26 26 152 22 34 
			 Harrow PCT 140 10 18 142 7 22 
			 Havering PCT 124 24 22 130 23 16 
			 Hillingdon PCT 143 16 14 136 17 14 
			 Hounslow PCT 122 28 30 129 23 26 
			 Islington PCT 140 17 12 130 11 18 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 110 17 20 101 18 18 
			 Kingston PCT 113 5 6 115 5 4 
			 Lambeth PCT 228 7 24 247 10 18 
			 Lewisham PCT 179 14 16 181 13 12 
			 Newham PCT 181 24 32 192 26 26 
			 Redbridge PCT 123 17 30 126 15 30 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 118 4 12 119 5 12 
			 Southwark PCT 187 11 20 187 11 20 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 260 3 14 243 3 18 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 151 10 10 156 6 14 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 149 19 26 148 20 14 
			 Wandsworth PCT 198 10 20 201 9 22 
			 Westminster PCT 150 15 32 139 14 26 
			
			 NHS London 4,868 479 714 4,953 442 690 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, column 119W, on health centres, on what dates officials in his Department attended programme-based meetings within strategic health authorities' remit; and if he will place in the Library copies of the  (a) agenda and  (b) minutes of such meetings.

Ben Bradshaw: Departmental officials have not attended any such meetings.

Polyclinics: Greater London

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of the polyclinics which are to be set up in London.

Ben Bradshaw: The organisation of health services is a matter for the national health service at local level. My hon. Friend may therefore wish to direct his question to the relevant primary care trusts or London strategic health authority.

Health Centres: Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect that GP-led health centres will have on levels of access to primary healthcare in rural areas.

Ben Bradshaw: The new general practitioner (GP)-led health centres will provide the public with access to primary care services from 8 am to 8 pm seven days a week. Patients can either book an appointment or use the centres on a walk-in basis, and can do so while remaining registered with their existing GP practice.
	Analysis of NHS Choices data of practices currently delivering extended opening hours, shows that where a practice's closest neighbour is not currently open on evenings or weekends, there is only a one in five chance of a practice delivering extended opening. However, where the immediately neighbouring practice is delivering extended opening to their patients, a practice is twice as likely to also provide extended opening. Therefore, by securing a new GP-led health centre and new GP practices in poorly served areas, other patients will also directly benefit from extended opening and better access for patients from their own practice.

Health Centres: Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on access criteria for GP-led health centres in rural areas.

Ben Bradshaw: PCTs have been asked to follow a small number of core criteria for the general practitioner (GP)-led health centres, including that the centres should be situated in an easily accessible location, that they can be used by any member of the public, whether registered with the health centres or not by either a bookable appointment or on a walk-in basis, and that they are open from 8 am-8 pm, 365 days a year. It is, ultimately, for PCTs to identify the best location for these new services following consultation with patients, GPs and others to reflect local needs and preferences.

Health Services: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for treatment in each London primary care trust in  (a) 2003 and  (b) 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  In-patient hospital waiting list statistics for London primary care trust (PCT) areascommissioner based (all specialties) 
			   Total waiting list 
			  Name  Period ending December 2003  Period ending December 2007 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 3,863 2,192 
			 Barnet PCT 5,908 3,654 
			 Bexley Care Trust 3,885 2,118 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 4,325 3,156 
			 Bromley PCT 5,677 3,500 
			 Camden PCT 3,130 2,264 
			 City and Hackney PCT 2,615 2,000 
			 Croydon PCT 6,162 4,192 
			 Ealing PCT 5,758 3,976 
			 Enfield PCT 5,435 3,377 
			 Greenwich PCT 4,169 2,862 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 2,785 1,418 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 3,478 2,925 
			 Harrow PCT 3,470 2,032 
			 Havering PCT 5,757 3,183 
			 Hillingdon PCT 3,827 3,147 
			 Hounslow PCT 3,939 2,361 
			 Islington PCT 2,706 2,490 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 1,940 1,321 
			 Kingston PCT 3,368 1,063 
			 Lambeth PCT 3,929 2,937 
			 Lewisham PCT 4,233 2,866 
			 Newham PCT 3,815 2,660 
			 Redbridge PCT 4,945 2,931 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 2,694 1,800 
			 Southwark PCT 3,532 2,643 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5,064 4,361 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 3,534 2,732 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 4,318 2,528 
			 Wandsworth PCT 3,649 2,719 
			 Westminster PCT 2,467 2,175 
			
			 NHS London 124,377 83,583 
			  Note: Bexley PCT was renamed Bexley Care Trust in 2004.  Source: Department of Health QFO1 and Monthly Monitoring

Health Services: North East

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quality incentive payments have been made in respect of each practice in the  (a) Newcastle upon Tyne Primary Care Trust,  (b) North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and  (c) Northumberland Primary Care Trust areas.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not collected centrally.

Health Services: Public Participation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) each response to the consultation on the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No. 2 Order 2008 and  (b) the Government's collated response to the consultation.

Ben Bradshaw: The report on the consultation will be laid in Parliament at the same time as the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) No. 2 Order 2008. The report will include information on individual responses, including how copies can be obtained.

Health Services: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the Core Standards for Better Health were met by hospitals in the South Staffordshire NHS Primary Care Trust area in the most recent period for which information is available; and which of the standards the hospitals did not meet in that period.

Ben Bradshaw: Each national health service trust and NHS foundation trust is required to publish a self-declaration of compliance against the twenty-four core standards set out in the Department of Health's Standards for Better Health. This document, as amended on 3 April 2006, has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4086665
	These declarations are on each trust's website and the Healthcare Commission published the national position on 16 June 2008.

Health Services: Wirral

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reduce health inequalities between the two Wirral primary care trust populations.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held centrally.
	' The Department has put in place a number of measures to tackle health inequalities. On 9 June 2008, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the document Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps (copies of which have already been placed in the Library). The document highlights successes in reducing inequalities and identifies how effort will be increased to meet the health inequalities 2010 National Public Service Agreement target for life expectancy and infant mortality. The document also sets the direction of travel for tackling health inequalities. It commits the Government to work together to develop the structures, systems and actions to sustain long-term delivery on health inequalities.
	The document also publicised an improved health inequalities intervention tool, jointly owned by the Department and the Association of Public Health Observatories. The tool is an interactive website to help local health services and councils improve life expectancy in local areas.
	The Department has also established national support teams for health inequalities and for tobacco control to disseminate best practice across all spearhead areas, including the Wirral area, and areas with high infant mortality rates, and to provide intensive support for those areas that need it.

HIV Infection: Children

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in England are receiving NHS treatment for HIV/AIDS.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of children (aged under 18 years) who were resident in England and who received HIV-related treatment or care in England in 2006 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of children (aged under 18 years) who were resident in England and who received HIV-related treatment or care in England in 2006( 1) 
			  Age  HIV-infected  Indeterminate HIV status or subsequently shown not to be infected with HIV 
			 Under 12 months 25 1,002 
			 1-15 933 0 
			 16-17 137 0 
			 Total 1,095 (2)1,002 
			 (1) Numbers exclude 13 children cared for/treated in England whose country of residence was not known. (2) In total 659 (66 per cent.) of these infants had been shown to be uninfected by the time that data were collected. Almost all of the remaining 343 infants would be expected to be shown to be uninfected by 18 months after being born.  Sources: 1. Health Protection Agency annual survey of HIV-infected persons accessing care 2. Institute of Child Health National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drugs, manufactured by which companies, his Department is considering for use in the programme to vaccinate girls against cervical cancer.

Dawn Primarolo: Cervarix will be the vaccine used for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he had with his counterparts in other EU member states on the effectiveness of a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme based on a quadrivalent vaccine before deciding which vaccine to procure for the Government's HPV vaccination programme.

Dawn Primarolo: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with his counterparts in other European Union member states on the effectiveness of a human papilloma virus vaccination programme based on a quadrivalent vaccine.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken of the effect of potential vaccines on the prevention of vulval and vaginal cancers in the decision to procure a two-type vaccine for the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme; what steps the Government plan to take to prevent vulval and vaginal cancers; and what contribution the HPV vaccination programme is intended to make to the Government's overall programme on sexual health.

Dawn Primarolo: Due account was taken of the potential preventative benefit of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine against vulval and vaginal cancers. The natural history of vaginal and vulval cancers is not completely understood. Although HPV infection is a risk factor for the development of vaginal or vulval lesions, unlike cervical cancer, only approximately 50 per cent. are associated with HPV infection. The evidence for a causal association and the percentage attributable to HPV infection, is greater for HPV types 16 and 18 than for other HPV types. Further studies are being conducted on the extent to which the HPV vaccine may protect against vulval and vaginal cancers caused by HPV type 16 and 18.
	The HPV vaccination programme has always been about cervical cancer protection and is not part of the Government's programme on sexual health.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reasons he decided to procure a two-type vaccine for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme in schools;
	(2)  for what reasons he decided not to procure a quadrivalent vaccine for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme in schools;
	(3)  what account was taken in procuring a vaccine for the human papilloma virus vaccination programme of the effectiveness of such vaccines in providing protection against genital warts; and what steps the Government plan to take to reduce the incidence of genital warts.

Dawn Primarolo: The aim of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine programme is to prevent cervical cancer in women and the best way to do this is to vaccinate girls/young women.
	Routine HPV vaccine will be introduced for girls aged 12 to 13 years from September this year. A catch-up programme will start from September 2009 and will run for two years. Girls aged 16 to 18 years will be immunised in 2009-10 and girls aged 15 to 17 years in 2010-11.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) and my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 2 July 2008,  Official Report, column 943W.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure robust data collection systems are in place during an influenza pandemic to capture data on  (a) attack rate,  (b) disease pattern and severity and  (c) mortality as referred to on page 8 of his Department's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee's Subgroup on Modelling's modelling summary, dated February 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to develop a flexible system to enable influenza antiviral treatment to be targeted dynamically, as referred to on page 8 of his Department's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee's Subgroup on Modelling's modelling summary, dated February 2008; what size of stockpile would make implementation of household prophylaxis practical; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when his Department plans to have stockpiled influenza antivirals sufficient for 50 to 60 per cent. of the population, as referred to in paragraph 2.4.2(d) of his Department's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee's Subgroup on Modelling's modelling summary, dated February 2008;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of individuals infected with a pandemic strain of influenza who would go on to become clinical cases over the course of a pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Wherever possible surveillance and information gathering during a pandemic will be based on existing data collection mechanisms. The attack rate will be estimated by modellers, principally those at the Health Protection Agency, through clinical data emerging from the United Kingdom and other affected countries. Disease pattern and severity will also be based on this information and that from national seasonal influenza surveillance systems, coordinated through the Health Protection Agency and mortality will be monitored through death registration data from the Office for National Statistics. There are data already monitored routinely as part of national seasonal influenza surveillance.
	Work is under way to ensure that information obtained from all these sources will be robust during a pandemic and appropriate to the needs of modellers and others who will use them.
	The proportion of individuals infected with a pandemic strain of influenza who would go on to become clinical cases over the course of a pandemic is estimated to be between 50 per cent. and 66 per cent. Evidence from seasonal influenza and the 1957 pandemic suggest that of these between 50 per cent. and 67 per cent. will show clinical symptoms. This is consistent with a worst case clinical attack rate of around 50 per cent.
	The increase in the antiviral stockpile from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. will ensure treatment is available for all symptomatic patients under the maximum clinical attack rate assumption of 50 per cent. There is thus much less chance that the dynamic targeting referred to will be needed. Flexibility in antiviral distribution via the Flu Line will be achieved by adjusting the clinical algorithm based on the clinical information obtained as the pandemic unfolds, as well as stock management and policy decisions. Plans for separate distribution channels are being developed to assist the hard to reach groups and others for whom the Flu Line will not be suited.
	As stated in the National Framework for responding to an influenza pandemic, it is possible to use antiviral medicines as a preventative measure (prophylaxis), copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library. The adoption of a policy of household prophylaxis is still being considered by the Department.
	The Department hopes that the antiviral stockpile will be procured during the latter part of 2008 and early 2009.

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for  (a) gunshot and  (b) knife wounds at hospitals in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not collected in the format requested.
	Information is available on patients admitted to hospital for gunshot wounds and knife wounds. These figures do not include patients who were treated in accident and emergency departments for gunshot wounds and knife wounds and not admitted.
	Tables have been placed in the Library which show a count of finished admission episodes for both gunshot and knife related injuries. Information is provided at primary care trust (PCT) level of residence for knife injuries which is the closest geographical breakdown to a London borough. Information is provided at strategic health authority level for gunshot wounds due to the relatively low numbers for individual PCTs.

Lasers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) research he has undertaken and  (b) evidence he has used to compile the draft partial impact assessment of deregulating Class 3B and 4 lasers and intense light sources in the consultation paper Private and Voluntary Healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000. Regulations and National Minimum Standards.

Ben Bradshaw: The partial impact assessment (IA) provided a number of arguments and figures in support of our consultation proposals. Some of the arguments and figures were based on working assumptions and these were made clear in the document; other figures were based on evidence and research and these were fully referenced in the IA. It was expected that the consultation would test the working assumptions and would bring to light further research and evidence, which could be fully taken into account when drawing up the final IA.

Leicester Primary Care Trust: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the reconfiguration budget of Leicester primary care trust.

Ivan Lewis: None. This is purely a matter for local determination.

Medical Treatments Abroad

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NHS patients living outside a pilot area to be able to travel abroad for operations.

Ben Bradshaw: The London Patient choice pilot between 2003 and 2005 included a bilateral arrangement with Belgium for patients who had waited more than six months to access treatment in Belgian hospitals. The scheme was terminated on 31 March 2005 because of low take up and increased availability of capacity within the national health service. There is therefore no possibility of extending this scheme. However, it is open to local commissioners to put in place whatever arrangements they want to make.
	There are also routes in European Union law for NHS patients who wish to receive planned health care abroad, namely long-standing social security arrangements under EC Regulation 1408/71. In addition, European Court of Justice case law has established the right for patients to go to EU member states for treatment, subject to certain circumstances. On 2 July 2008 the European Commission adopted a draft directive on the application of patient rights in cross-border health care. This directive will be subject to negotiations, but aims to clarify the application of the case law on overseas treatment.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 3 June 2008, on Government proposals for changes to GP surgeries.

Ben Bradshaw: A reply was issued to the hon. Member on 4 July 2008.

NHS

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1211W, on the NHS, which  (a) hospitals and  (b) other organisations were visited; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) duration was of each visit.

Ben Bradshaw: The information has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Coroners

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the national health service has legal representation at all inquests involving deaths in hospital.

Ann Keen: National health service trusts and foundation trusts running hospitals are themselves legal entities distinct from the Department. As such, they are responsible for deciding if and when to take legal advice or seek legal representation, including at any inquest into a death in hospital.

NHS: Drugs

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what contracts there are for the supply of drugs by Merck, Sharp and Dohme Limited for use under the NHS; what drugs and how much of each type of drug are supplied under each contract; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much has been spent on the procurement of drugs manufactured by Merck, Sharp and Dohme Ltd. for use in the NHS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) drugs and  (b) doses procured;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to secure a supply of drugs manufactured by Merck, Sharp and Dohme over the next five years; what recent discussions his Department has had with the company on contracts for the supply of drugs for use in the NHS in that period; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) contracts for the supply of licensed prescription medicines to the national health service (secondary care) in England.
	At present NHS PASA is in no dialogue with Merck, Sharp and Dohme that is specific to this supplier. Any dialogue with Merck, Sharp and Dohme is consistent with NHS PASA dialogue with all other suppliers as part of its sourcing programme and in line with its operating procedures that reflect European Union guidance.
	The actual figures of the quantities and values of products purchased from Merck, Sharp and Dohme in the NHS is not collected centrally.
	The NHS PASA currently have framework agreements in place for the following products:
	Alendronic acid tablets 5 milligrams (mg);
	Dorzolamide (as hydrochloride) 2% Timolol 0.5% eye drops 5 millilitres (ml);
	Dorzolamide (as hydrochloride) eye drops 2% 5ml;
	Imipenem + Cilastatin injection 500mg 120ml;
	Imipenem + Cilastatin injection 500mg 120ml Monovial;
	Imipenem 500mg/Cilastatin 500mg intramuscular injection 15ml vial;
	Imipenem 500mg/Cilastatin 500mg powder. 120ml.vial;
	Imipenem 500mg/Cilastatin 500mg powder. 20ml vial;
	Imipenem 500mg/Cilastin 500mg powder for suspension vial;
	Imipenem 500mg/Cilastin 500mg powder for solution monovial;
	Imipenem 500mg/Cilastin 500mg powder for solution vial;
	Imipenem/Cilastatin intramuscular injection vial 500mg 15ml;
	Imipenem/Cilastatin intravenous injection vial 500mg 120ml;
	Imipenem/Cilastatin monovial injection vial 500mg 20ml;
	Timolol eye drops long acting 0.5% 5ml;
	Timolol eye drops long acting 0.25% 2.5ml;
	Timolol eye drops long acting 0.5% 2.5ml;
	Timolol eye drops long acting 0.25% 2.5ml;
	Timolol eye drops long acting 0.5% 2.5ml;
	Timolol eye drops long acting 0.5%/2.5m;
	Timolol eye drops 0.25% 0.25ml;
	Timolol eye drops 0.5% 0.25ml; and
	Tirofiban hydrochloride solution for injection bag 12.5mg/250ml.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) initial budget and  (b) outturn for both (i) revenue and (ii) capital were for the National Programme for IT in the 2007-08 financial year.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's NHS Connecting for Health Agency is responsible both for ensuring delivery of the information technology (IT) systems under the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), and for maintaining the critical business systems previously provided to the national health service by the former NHS Information Authority.
	NHS Connecting for Health does not prepare annual whole-programme budgets for NPfIT activity separate from the business of the Agency as a whole because this would involve the unnecessary apportionment of common management, administrative and support costs. For the same reason, separate outturn figures are not routinely reported for management information purposes.
	Information covering all the Agency's responsibilities is shown in the following table. These figures are subject to audit and may therefore continue to be subject to minor adjustment.
	
		
			   million 
			  2007-08  Initial Budget  Outturn 
			 Revenue 607 507 
			 Capital 915 686 
		
	
	These figures include amounts allocated in year to NHS organisations.

NHS: Land

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the downturn in the property market on the financial position of NHS trusts which have factored in profits from the sale of surplus land into their budgets;
	(2)  what requirements NHS trusts have to notify his Department of surplus land sales; and what consent regimes exist to authorise the disposal of surplus land;
	(3)  what guidance his Department has provided to NHS trusts on the disposal of surplus land.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service trusts develop and manage their own capital financing plans, to which the proceeds from property disposals may make a contribution. Such transactions are subject to the conditions of the property market at that time. In general, a more significant contribution is made from the cash they receive in their income for the depreciation charge in their accounts, through loans from the Department and, under certain circumstances, allocations of public dividend capital. It is for NHS trusts to manage any changes in value of proceeds from asset disposals as part of their capital and overall financial planning
	The Department operates a system of delegated limits for capital investment and for property transactions for NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. A copy of the Delegated Limits for Capital Investment guidance has been placed in the Library.
	Guidance to NHS organisations on all land and property transactions, including the disposal of surplus land or buildings, is given in the Department's publication, Health Building Note 00-08: Estatecode, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
	Under this guidance, where property has been identified as surplus to a particular NHS organisation, it should be offered to other local trusts to determine whether the asset could be re-used by them for the provision of healthcare services, Government Departments and the local authority. This policy accords with the Government's requirement to make better use of surplus public sector land.
	NHS foundation trusts are authorised and regulated by Monitor, the independent regulator, which provides guidance to these trusts on property transactions.

NHS: Procurement

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas primary care trust commissioning is immature, as referred to on page 10 of his Department's document, Developing the NHS Performance Regime, published on 4 June 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: Commissioning for local health services in England is the core responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs). It is a complex process with responsibilities ranging from assessing population needs and prioritising health outcomes to procuring products and services, and managing service providers. As such, commissioners are required to possess a wide range of skills, including robust analysis, effective stakeholder engagement and communication, financial management, strategic planning and performance management skills. The joint Department of Health and Prime Minister's Delivery Unit review of commissioning capabilities in May 2007 suggested that some PCTs perform better in some areas than others. However, there is not yet any comprehensive evidence about commissioning strengths and weaknesses nationally.
	In June this year, a national commissioning assurance system was launched to hold commissioners to account through assessing their performance and rewarding development. PCTs will be assessed against commissioning skill sets, or competencies, organisational governance and health outcomes. By publishing and assessing against the competencies that make commissioning for health services world class, a clearer national picture will emerge. PCTs will also be better able to understand where their commissioning strengths and weaknesses lie and will be incentivised to access support and development resources in order to improve.

NHS: Public Appointments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a full-time appointment to the post of head of the NHS Commercial Directorate. [R]

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 July 2008
	 The Director General of the Commercial Directorate is in post until 15 July 2008. The Department remains committed to having strong commercial expertise and presence in its leadership team and decisions will be taken in due course on appropriate leadership arrangements. In the interim, Director General level leadership for the directorate will be provided by the Director General for Commissioning and System Management.

NHS: Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 766W, on NHS: telephone service, what the reasons are for the disparity between calls to NHS Direct  (a) made and  (b) forecast in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The reasons for the differences between the number of calls forecast and number of calls made in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are as follows:
	There have been significant increases in web usage across the two years with some patients choosing to access NHS Direct's services through the internet rather than via the telephone;
	in 2006-07 web visits increased by 52 per cent. (approximately 7 million additional visits per annum); and
	in 2007-08 web visits increased by 49 per cent. (approximately 10 million additional visits per annum).
	significant improvements in performance during 2007-08 have helped reduce the number of repeat callers and therefore the number of calls; and
	NHS Direct include in their forecast calls to 0845 46 47 and other calls to services provided to national and local commissioners. This includes calls to the appointments line (formerly choose and book appointments line). In 2006-07 the Department overestimated calls to the appointments line when there were 520,000 calls less than the 2 million forecast.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used by his Department to determine whether a regulatory impact assessment should be undertaken on primary legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Regulatory impact assessments no longer exist as they have been superseded by impact assessments. The Department follows the criteria contained in guidance provided by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). Impact assessments are required:
	for all forms of intervention (including primary or secondary legislation as well as codes of practice or guidance) where the department or regulator considers that the effect will be to increase or decrease costs for business, the public sector, third sector organisations, regulators or consumers;
	when proposals would not yield an overall net change in costs and benefits but some kind of redistribution, or when there is a change in administrative costs; and
	when seeking collective agreement for United Kingdom negotiating positions on European Union proposals, and also when submitting bids for primary legislation to the Legislative Programme Cabinet Committee.
	However, a proportionate approach should be used. If the cost of a proposal is below 5 million only a developmental/option stage impact assessment is necessary.
	Further information is available on BERR website at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/bre/policy/scrutinising-new-regulations/preparing-impact-assessments/page44077.html

Smoking: Young People

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of  (a) tobacco advertising and promotion and  (b) displays of tobacco at the point of sale on young people's smoking behaviour; and what research has been conducted into each of these areas.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's recently published 'A consultation on the Future of Tobacco Control' includes an overview of research on tobacco marketing and promotion and young people, and asks several questions of stakeholders in this area.
	Copies of the consultation have already been placed in the Library.

Smoking: Young People

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken or evaluated on how under 18 year-olds obtain tobacco products.

Dawn Primarolo: Protecting young people from smoking is a priority for the Government, and is one of the key areas of the Department's current consultation on the future of tobacco control, 'A consultation on the Future of Tobacco Control'. Copies of the consultation have already been placed in the Library. The age of sale for tobacco was raised to 18 years on 1 October 2007. Tougher sanctions against retailers who persistently flout the tobacco age of sale law will be introduced in April 2009.
	Latest information about the sources of tobacco for children who regularly smoke is published by The Information Centre for health and social care in 'Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Amongst Young People in England 2006'. Copies of this information have already been placed in the Library.

Social Care Journal

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with publishers on the implementation of the recommendation of the Platt Review on the establishment of a social care journal.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has commissioned the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to take forward this project on its behalf. In the first phase of work, the SCIE commissioned strategic consultancy from the Central Office of Information to develop options for a new journal. A report on the outcome of this work was submitted to the Department in March 2008.
	The second phase will be a formal process of engagement/tendering, between January and March 2009, to identify an appropriate commercial partner.

Southern Cross Healthcare: Care Homes

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to investigate the reports by Southern Cross Healthcare that it is experiencing higher than normal attrition rates in its residential care homes;
	(2)  what contingency planning the Government have undertaken to ensure the continuance of care for the elderly in the event of Southern Cross Healthcare being unable to continue in operation as a result of its financial difficulties.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that it monitors care homes individually and would take action on any such information received. Regulation 37 Notification of deaths, illness and other events, of the Care Homes Regulations 2001 requires homes to notify CSCI without delay of the occurrence of  (a) the death of any service user, including the circumstances of his death.
	There have been no concerns raised with local CSCI offices or inspectors in respect of this issue regarding Southern Cross care homes.
	Local authorities are responsible for managing and directing their resources in accordance with local priorities and the needs of the communities to which they are accountable. This will include ensuring continuity of care to residents for whose care they are responsible.

St Mary's Hospital NHS Trust: Waiting Lists

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median waiting time in weeks was at St. Mary's NHS Trust for  (a) ordinary admissions,  (b) first out-patient attendance from GP referral and  (c) day case admission in each year since 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not held in the format requested. Data are no longer collected separately for ordinary and day case admissions but are combined for patients waiting for admission to hospital. In addition, St. Mary's NHS Trust merged with Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust on 30 September 2007 to form Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
	The following table shows the median waiting times for inpatient admission and first outpatient attendance at St. Mary's NHS Trust and Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust at 31 March 2007 and at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust at 31 March 2008 and 31 May 2008. This is the latest information that is available.
	
		
			  Median waiting time for inpatient admission and first outpatient attendance (weeks) 
			   Organisation  Inpatient  Outpatient 
			 Period ending 31 March 2007 St. Mary's NHS Trust 5.3 3.3 
			  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 5.9 3.4 
			  Trusts Combined 5.6 3.4 
			 
			 Period ending 31 March 2008 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 3.9 2.5 
			 
			 Period ending May 2008 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 3.1 2.2 
			  Notes:  1. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. This should be taken into account when interpreting the data.  2. The inpatient figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital.  3. The outpatient figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for a first outpatient appointment following a general practitioner (GP) referral at the end of the period stated. Outpatient waiting times are measured from a GP referral to a first outpatient appointment with the consultant.  Source:  Monthly Monitoring Returnprovider based.

Vaccination

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which manufacturers have supplied vaccines to the NHS; over what period of time each vaccine was supplied; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Vaccine  Manufacturer/brand name  Start  Finish 
			 Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (APV) LederleAPV May 1994 August 2000 
			 Anthrax The Health Protection AgencyAnthrax September 2004 Ongoing 
			 Bacilllus Calmette Guerin (BCG) Evans vaccineBCG (Intradermal) 1986 August 2002 
			 BCG Evans vaccineBCG (Percutaneous) 1992 June 2005 
			 BCG Statens Serum InstitutBCG (Intradermal) December 2002 Ongoing 
			 Diphtheria and Tetanus (DT) Aventis Pasteur MSDdifferent dosagesDT 1992 July 2003 
			 DT Chiron VaccinesDT April 2000 January 2004 
			 DT MedevaDT 1992 March 1999 
			 Diphtheria (D) MedevaDiphtheria April 1993 June 2000 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) GlaxoSmithKlineInfanrix October 2001 October 2004 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus and Wholecell Pertussis (DTwP) Aventis Pasteur MSDDTP 1994 June 2000 
			 DTwP Chiron BehringDTP 1998 January 2003 
			 DTwP MedevaTrviax AD 1992 November 1998 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and Inactivated Polio (DTaP/IPV) Aventis Pasteur MSDTetravax April 2001 July 2001 
			 DTaP/IPV GlaxoSmithKlineInfanrix IPV February 2005 Ongoing 
			 DTaP/IPV Sanofi Pasteur MSDRepevax August 2004 Ongoing 
			 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and Inactivated Polio with Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV+Hib) GlaxoSmithKlineInfanrix/IPV+Hib March 2006 Ongoing 
			 DTaP/IPV+Hib Sanofi Pasteur MSDPediacel August 2004 Ongoing 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Aventis Pasteur MSDACT Hib 1992 April 2002 
			 Hib GlaxoSmithKlineHiberix June 2001 July 2006 
			 Hib LederleHibTITER 1992 2001 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b/Meningococcal Group C Conjugate (Hib/Men C) GlaxoSmithKlineMenitorix July 2007 Ongoing 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b with Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP/Hib) GlaxoSmithKlineInfanrix Hib December 1999 February 2003 
			 Haemophilus influenzae type b with Diphtheria, Tetanus and Wholecell Pertussis (DTwP/Hib) Aventis Pasteur MSDACTHib DTP April 1996 September 2004 
			 DTwP/Hib SmithKlineBeechamTrivax/Hib May 1997 October 1999 
			 Inactivated Polio (IPV) Aventis Pasteur MSDInactivated polio 1984 October 2004 
			 Low Dose Diphtheria (d) Berna BiotechLow Dose Diphtheria October 1995 August 2003 
			 Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) GlaxoSmithKlinePriorix May 1998 Ongoing 
			 MMR Pasteur MerieuxImmravax 1989-90 1992-93 
			 MMR Sanofi Pasteur MSDMMR II April 1998 Ongoing 
			 MMR Sanofi Pasteur MSDMMR II (American MMR) May 2005 July 2005 
			 MMR Sanofi Pasteur MSDTriplovax (German MMR) May 2005 June 2005 
			 MMR SmithKlineBeechamPluserix 1988-89 1992-93 
			 Meningoccocal Group C Conjugate (MenC) Baxter HealthcareNeisvac August 2000 January 2007 
			 MenC Chiron vaccinesMenjugate March 2000 March 2005 
			 MenC Novartis vaccinesMenjugate Kit April 2006 Ongoing 
			 MenC Wyeth vaccinesMeningitec October 1999 September 2007 
			 Oral Polio (OPV) Evans VaccinesOral Polio December 1998 October 2000 
			 OPV GlaxoSmithKlineOral polio April 2001 October 2004 
			 OPV SmithKilneBeechamOral Polio April 1997 March 2001 
			 Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) WyethPrevenar April 2006 Ongoing 
			 Rabies Rabies vaccine has been purchased for the NHS since 1979 from either Sanofi Pasteur MSD or Novartis Vaccines 1979 Ongoing 
			 Rubella EvansAlmevax 1992 1997 
			 Rubella SmithKlineBeechamErvevax 1992 2003 
			 Tetanus and Low Dose Diphtheria (Td) Aventis Pasteur MSDDiftavax September 1994 November 2006 
			 Tetanus and Low Dose Diphtheria with Inactivated Polio (Td/IPV) Sanofi Pasteur MSDRevaxis August 2004 Ongoing 
			 Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) (diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB)) Chiron vaccines10 unit 1986 May 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Chiron vaccines100 unit 1992 May 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Chiron vaccines1,000 unit 1992 May 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Chiron vaccinesHeaf test 1986 November 2005 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Statens Serum InstitutSS2 July 2005 Ongoing 
			 Tuberculin PPD (diagnostic test for TB) Statens Serum InstitutSSI0 May 2005 Ongoing

Vaccination: Drugs

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions there are on the provision of the drugs  (a) Pedaciel,  (b) Repevax,  (c) Infanrix-IPV and  (d) Menitorix to GP surgeries; whether any vaccination clinics have not taken place as a result of restrictions in supply; whether any alternative arrangements have been made for vaccination; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Pedaciel, Repevax, Infanrix-IPV and Menitorix have been put on an allocation system. The allocation system aims to ensure general practitioner contractors receive doses based on their historic vaccine requirements so every child should be immunised with no need to delay immunisations. Where surgeries are concerned that they may not have sufficient stocks for a clinic they have contacted the Department's vaccine supply team who are working to ensure additional doses have been made available.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost;
	(2)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department expended the following sums on timber products, furniture and fittings in the last five years;
	
		
			
			 2003-04 74,743 
			 2004-05 164,092 
			 2005-06 532,655 
			 2006-07 1,142,555 
			 2007-08 807,018 
		
	
	It has not been possible to ascertain individual quantities of materials ordered.
	The Department confirms that it has specified verifiable, legal and sustainable sources for the provision of timber and timber products purchased by this Department over the last five years, and will specify the European Union's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensed timber products for future purchases when it becomes available.